te
/tə/
The French phrase for yourself can be expressed as te or vous.
Meaning: (reflexive) your own self (pron)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| te | /tə/ |
| vous | /vu/ /vu.z‿/ |
Which one should you use?
vous is used when addressing one person formally or when addressing multiple people.
How do you pronounce it?
/tə/
Did you know?
- The reflexive use of se or vous in French can sometimes turn a verb with a positive meaning into one with a completely different or negative meaning.
- While vous is used for formality, the distinction between te and vous can create a social 'power dynamic' where one person uses vous and the other responds with te.
- French uses reflexive pronouns like te and vous for many common activities that English treats as simple actions, such as waking up or washing.
Examples in context
- Ne te brûle pas.Don't burn yourself.This sentence is useful for showing how to use te in a negative command.Tatoeba #3258114 by nimfeo, translation #3258115 by CK
- Tu vas te blesser.You're going to hurt yourself.This sentence is useful for showing how to use te to express a future action.Tatoeba #12963270 by lbdx, translation #3358880 by CK
- Ne te déprécie pas.Don't sell yourself short.Tatoeba #963996 by sacredceltic, translation #264818 by CM
- 686 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking about a new hobby.
- LucasTu dois te reposer un peu.You need to rest yourself a bit.
- ManonJe sais, mais j'aime ce sport.I know, but I love this sport.
- LucasNe te fatigue pas trop, Manon.Don't tire yourself out too much, Manon.
- ManonD'accord, je vais faire attention.Okay, I will be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yourself” translations and entries te, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
