ma taille
The English phrase 'my height' is translated into French as ma taille.
ma taille is used to refer to the measurement of how tall a person is. When writing measurements in French, use a comma instead of a period for decimals, such as 1,75 m for 1.75 meters.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ma, meaning 'my' and taille, which can mean 'size' or 'waist'. In the context of human measurement, taille refers to height.
Which one should you use?
While taille can also mean 'size' in the context of clothing, it is the standard term for a person's physical height.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using ma hauteur to describe how tall a person is. Although 'height' is the English word, hauteur is reserved for the height of inanimate objects or abstract concepts like 'high standards'. Use ma taille for people instead.
Did you know?
- Using the word hauteur to describe a person's height is not just a mistake, but can sound like you are describing their social superiority or arrogance.
- The word taille originates from the Old French verb taillier, which means 'to cut'. This relates the concept of human height to the act of carving or trimming shapes.
- The word taille is also used in gardening to describe the pruning or trimming of a hedge.
Examples in context
- Je mesure 1 mètre et 75 centimètresI am 1 meter and 75 centimeters tall.
- Ma taille est de 1 mètre et 60 centimètresMy height is 1 meter 60 centimeters.
- Je fais 1 mètre 70I am 1 meter 70 centimeters tall.
- Je mesure 1 m 80I am 1 meter 80 centimeters tall.
- Ma taille est de 1m70.My height is 1m70.
- Je ne connais pas ma taille exacte.I do not know my exact height.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are comparing how tall they are.
- EmmaRegarde, Gabriel, ma taille est presque la tienne.Look, Gabriel, my height is almost yours.
- GabrielC'est vrai, tu as beaucoup grandi.That's true, you have grown a lot.
- EmmaJe me demande si ma taille va encore changer.I wonder if my height will change again.
- GabrielOui, tu es encore très jeune.Yes, you are still very young.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ma, taille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
