tu es noir
In French, "you're black" is said as tu es noir.
This phrase is used as a statement to describe someone's racial identity or skin color.
Which one should you use?
The default form tu es noir uses the masculine singular form of the adjective. Use tu es noire when speaking to a woman, and use vous êtes noirs when addressing a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person being addressed. Use noire if you are speaking to a woman. When addressing a group of people, the adjective takes a plural form, such as noirs.
Did you know?
- The word noir is a linguistic doublet of nègre, meaning both evolved from the same Latin root nigrum but developed different meanings.
- In French, the color noir can also describe a mood or a style of humor, such as humour noir, which refers to dark comedy.
- In French art and literature, le noir is often used as a symbol for existential dread or a philosophical state of melancholy.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, mais vous êtes de couleur noire, n'est-ce pas?Excuse me, but you are black, aren't you?
- Hé, t'es black ou quoi ?Hey, are you black or what?
- Tu es noir, n'est-ce pas ?You are black, aren't you?
- Je sais que tu es noir.I know that you are black.
- Tu es noir, comme ton père.You are black, like your father.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are discussing their family backgrounds.
- HugoJe suis métis, et toi ?I am mixed race, and you?
- LéaMoi, je suis blanche.Me, I am white.
- HugoEt ton frère, tu es noir aussi ?And your brother, you're black too?
- LéaNon, il est métis comme Hugo.No, he is mixed race like Hugo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries noir, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
