et moi
The English phrase 'what about me' can be translated into French as et moi.
This phrase is used to ask how a particular situation or decision affects the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase et moi is literally translated as 'and me'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase Et moi alors ? is an informal way to express the idea. You can also use Et moi, alors ? to add the sense of 'then' or 'so' to the question. For a more formal situation, use Qu'en est-il de moi ?
Did you know?
- The spelling of 'et' was actually changed in the 12th century. Scribes added the 't' back to the Old French 'e' specifically to match the look of the original Latin word.
- In a casual setting, adding alors to et moi doesn't just mean 'then', but can signal a feeling of being neglected or forgotten in a conversation.
- French uses a 'tonic pronoun' in et moi because the pronoun follows a preposition or stands alone, which is why it differs from the 'me' used before a verb.
Examples in context
- Et moi, alors ?What about me?This sentence is useful for asking 'What about me?' with the addition of 'then'.Tatoeba #10293989 by Micsmithel, translation #2549675 by CK
- Et moi ? Tu ne comptes pas."What about me?" "You don't count."This example shows a short dialogue where one person asks 'What about me?' and the other responds that they do not count.Tatoeba #10323877 by Akenaseryan, translation #10324026 by DJ_Saidez
- Tout le monde a un cadeau, et moi ?Everyone has a gift, what about me?
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are deciding who will go to the cinema.
- LéaLucas et Marc vont au cinéma.Lucas and Marc are going to the cinema.
- LucasC'est super pour eux !That's great for them!
- LéaEt moi ?What about me?
- LucasTu peux venir avec nous, Léa.You can come with us, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries et, moi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
