elle est américaine
The phrase "she is american" in French is elle est américaine.
This phrase is used to state that a female person is a citizen or national of the United States.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, when stating someone's nationality with the verb être, you do not use an indefinite article like une. Additionally, the adjective américaine must take the feminine ending -e to agree with the feminine subject elle.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly include the article une in the phrase elle est une américaine. However, in this context, the article should be omitted.
Did you know?
- The word est is one of only two words in the entire French language, the other being Jésus-Christ, where a silent internal 's' is still kept in the modern spelling.
- While the English word 'American' refers specifically to the United States, a French speaker using américaine could technically be referring to a woman from any part of the Americas.
Examples in context
- Elle est américaine.She is American.This sentence is useful for stating the nationality of a female subject using elle est américaine.Tatoeba #8598404 by Micsmithel, translation #2066956 by DaSydsta33
- Elle est américaine, mais elle habite à Paris.She is American, but she lives in Paris.
- Je sais qu'elle est américaine.I know that she is American.
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are talking about a new colleague.
- HugoEst-ce qu'elle parle anglais ?Does she speak English?
- ChloéOui, elle est américaine.Yes, she is American.
- HugoD'où vient-elle exactement ?Where is she from exactly?
- ChloéElle vient de New York.She comes from New York.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries elle, est, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
