je
/ʒə/
In French, the English phrase "I" is expressed as je. If unsure, use je. Wiktionary also lists moi.
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| je | /ʒə/ /ʒ/ (informal) |
| moi | /mwa/ /mwe/ |
It can appear as a subject pronoun or as a stressed pronoun depending on the structure of the sentence.
Which one should you use?
The form je is the subject pronoun used specifically before a verb. In contrast, moi is a stressed pronoun used for emphasis or after prepositions. Additionally, moi is used in short, elliptical responses where a verb is not present, such as when answering a question like "Who wants chocolate?, Me!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form je becomes j' when the following word begins with a vowel or a silent h.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using moi as the subject of a sentence. For example, do not say "Moi suis…" instead of using je.
Did you know?
- The word je is a direct descendant of the Latin 'egō', the same root used in the English word 'ego'.
- Even though moi can mean 'me', it is often used in French to mean 'I' in informal, spoken emphasis, such as when saying Moi, je pense… to mean 'As for me, I think…'.
- The subject pronoun je can be completely omitted in certain informal contexts or replaced by the stressed moi to signal a strong personal opinion.
Examples in context
- Moi non plus !Neither am I!This sentence is useful for practicing the use of moi in short responses.Tatoeba #1156781 by sacredceltic, translation #1349966 by sacredceltic
- Je suis né là.I was born there.This sentence is useful for practicing the subject pronoun je before a verb.Tatoeba #1246591 by sacredceltic, translation #1211854 by CM
- Je vis à Tokyo.I live in Tokyo.Tatoeba #14429 by Aiji, translation #279745 by CK
- 14195 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning their lunch.
- NathanJe mange une salade aujourd'hui.I am eating a salad today.
- ManonJe préfère les pâtes.I prefer pasta.
- NathanEst-ce que je peux commander pour toi ?Can I order for you?
- ManonOui, je veux bien, merci.Yes, I would like that, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations and entries je, moi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, moi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
