mon prince
The English phrase 'my prince' is translated into French as mon prince.
mon prince is a formal way to say 'my prince' in French used when addressing someone of royal or noble rank.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase mon prince, the possessive adjective mon is used because prince is a masculine singular noun. If you wish to refer to a female, the feminine form is ma princesse.
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'prince' is almost exclusively a royal title, prince in French can be used in certain expressions to describe someone who is excessively generous or noble in spirit.
- French has a specific tradition of 'style' in addressing nobility where using mon before a title does not imply ownership, but rather serves as a marker of respect.
- The Latin root of prince is prīnceps, which literally means 'the first' or 'the first to take a step'.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, mon prince.Hello, my prince.
- Tu es mon prince et mon héros.You are my prince and my hero.
Example conversation
A royal courtier speaks with his ruler.
- HugoMon prince, le dîner est prêt.My prince, dinner is ready.
- EmmaMerci, Hugo. J'arrive tout de suite.Thank you, Hugo. I am coming right now.
- HugoVoulez-vous que je vous accompagne, mon prince ?Do you want me to accompany you, my prince?
- EmmaNon, je préfère y aller seul.No, I prefer to go alone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mon, prince, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
