tu es à moi
The French phrase for "you're mine" is tu es à moi.
This phrase is used to tell someone that you possess them or that they belong to you in a romantic or possessive way.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter Tu m'appartiens, which is an informal expression meaning "You belong to me." Additionally, Vous êtes à moi is a formal phrase meaning "You belong to me."
How does it change in a sentence?
Use vous êtes à moi if you are addressing more than one person or using the formal vous to express possession.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say tu es mon instead of tu es à moi. Note that mon is a possessive adjective that must be followed by a noun (e.g., mon amour), whereas à moi functions as the predicate to mean "mine".
Did you know?
- In French literature and cinema, tu es à moi is often used as a trope for obsessive love, shifting from a romantic sentiment to something more menacing.
- Using the formal vous in Vous êtes à moi can create a paradoxical tone of 'formal intimacy' or power dynamics, such as a master addressing a servant in a romantic drama.
- The preposition à in this phrase is a combination of two different Latin words, ad and ab.
Examples in context
- Tu es à moi.You're mine.Tatoeba #4563952 by Amastan, translation #2217883 by CK
- Je suis à toi et tu es à moi.I'm yours and you're mine.Tatoeba #2159383 by sacredceltic, translation #6872921 by CK
- Madame Dupont, vous êtes à moi dès maintenant.Mrs. Dupont, you belong to me from now on.
- Chéri(e), tu es à moi, et personne d'autre ne compte.Darling, you're mine, and no one else matters.
- Mon meilleur ami, tu m'appartiens pour toujours.My best friend, you belong to me forever.
- Dis-le encore une fois, tu es à moi.Say it once more, you're mine.
Example conversation
A romantic moment at sunset during a walk.
- LéaJe t'aime tellement.I love you so much.
- GabrielMoi aussi, Léa.Me too, Léa.
- LéaRegarde-moi, tu es à moi.Look at me, you're mine.
- GabrielEt je ne veux être qu'à toi.And I only want to belong to you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moi, tu, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
