c'est à moi
To say "it is mine" in French, use c'est à moi.
The phrase c'est à moi is used to state that a specific object belongs to the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "it is to me", using the preposition à to indicate possession.
Which one should you use?
While c'est à moi focuses on the act of possession (it belongs to me), c'est le mien focuses on the identity of the object (it is the mine/my one).
Did you know?
- In French, you cannot use c'est à moi for people, such as a child or a spouse. To express a relationship, you must use the possessive adjective mon or ma because à moi implies ownership of an object.
- In the French translation of 'The Lord of the Rings', the character Gollum uses c'est à moi to express his pathological obsession with the One Ring.
- The preposition à in this phrase is a linguistic merge of the Latin words 'ad' (toward) and 'ab' (from).
Examples in context
- C'est à moi, ce sac.This bag is mine.
- Ne touche pas à ça, c'est à moi.Don't touch that, it is mine.
Example conversation
Gabriel finds a pen on the floor and asks Manon about it.
- ManonRegarde, est-ce que ce stylo est à toi ?Look, is this pen yours?
- GabrielOui, c'est à moi, merci Gabriel.Yes, it is mine, thank you Gabriel.
- ManonIl était par terre dans le couloir.It was on the floor in the hallway.
- GabrielC'est gentil de me le rendre.It is kind of you to give it back to me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'est, moi, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
