How to Talk About Your Nationality

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do French by FrenchPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to talk about your nationality in French.

For example, "I'm American" is

Je suis américaine.

Two passengers, Constance Collin and Hugues Henry , are seated next to each other as passengers on a plane to Paris.

Before you hear their conversation, let’s preview some of its key components.

américaine

"American"

américaine

Listen to the conversation.

Êtes-vous américaine ?

Oui, je suis américaine.

Once more with the English translation.

Êtes-vous américaine ?

"Are you American?"

Oui, je suis américaine.

"Yes, I'm American."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Ms. Collin asks,

"Are you American??"

Êtes-vous américaine ?

First is êtes, "are" as in "you are" when using formal French. Êtes. Êtes.

Êtes is from the verb être, meaning "to be." Être.

Next is vous, the formal word for "you." Vous. Vous.

Note: in French when you ask a question, you often invert the standard subject-verb order. Here, the subject, vous, comes after the verb, êtes. When this happens, a hyphen is placed between the verb and the pronoun in written French.

After this is américaine, "American" as in an American person. Américaine. Américaine.

Note: Américaine is feminine.

Hugues Henry uses a feminine adjective, américaine, to refer to Constance Collin.

If Hugues was referring to a male, he would use the masculine adjective, américain, to refer to him. As in Êtes-vous américain ? "Are you American?" Êtes-vous américain ?

All together, Êtes-vous américaine ? "Are you American ?"

Êtes-vous américaine ?

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Constance Collin says,

"Yes, I'm American."

Oui, je suis américaine.

This starts with the expression, oui, meaning "yes." Oui. Oui.

It answers Hugue's yes-or-no question, "Are you American?"

Êtes-vous américaine ?

Next is je. "I." Je. Je.

After this is suis. "Am." Suis. Suis.

Suis is from the verb être, meaning "to be." Être.

After this is américaine, "American" as in an American person. Américaine.

All together, Oui, je suis américaine. "Yes, I'm American."

Oui, je suis américaine.

The pattern is

Je suis NATIONALITY.

I'm NATIONALITY.

Je suis NATIONALITY.

Simply replace the {nationality} placeholder with your nationality.

Note: the placeholder is an adjective, and its gender will depend on the speaker — in this case you.

Imagine you’re Hugues Henry, and you're French. The word for a "French" man is français. français. français.

Say

"I'm French."

Ready?

Je suis français.

"I'm French."

Je suis français.

In the conversation, the response to the yes-no question was "yes."

In case the answer was "no," the corresponding French response would be non, meaning, "no." Non. Non.

For example, if Constance was asked,

Êtes-vous française ?

"Are you French?"

She could have answered,

Non, je suis américaine.

"No, I am American."

Remember this pattern. You’ll need it for the practice section.

Again, the key pattern is

Je suis NATIONALITY.

I'm NATIONALITY.

Je suis NATIONALITY.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Je suis américaine.

"I'm American."

Je suis américaine.

Je suis français.

"I'm French."

Je suis français.

Je suis australienne.

"I'm Australian."

Je suis australienne.

Je suis anglais.

"I'm English."

Je suis anglais.

Je ne suis pas japonaise, je suis chinoise.

"I'm not Japanese. I'm Chinese."

Je ne suis pas japonaise, je suis chinoise.

Did you notice how the last speaker uses a different pattern?

Je ne suis pas japonaise, je suis chinoise.

"I'm not Japanese. I'm Chinese."

First is Je, "I." Je.

Next is ne, the first part of ne…pas, meaning "not." Ne. Ne.

Next is suis. "Am." Suis.

After this is pas, the second part of ne… pas, meaning "not." Pas. Pas.

Together, it's je ne suis pas, meaning "I'm not." Je ne suis pas.

Next is japonaise. "Japanese." Japonaise. Japonaise.

Note: japonaise is the feminine form of japonais.

All together, Je ne suis pas japonaise. "I'm not Japanese." Je ne suis pas japonaise.

Jing Liu then states her actual nationality. Je suis chinoise. "I'm Chinese." Je suis chinoise.

First, je. "I." Je.

Then is suis. "Am." Suis.

Suis is from the verb être, meaning "to be." Être.

After this is chinoise, "Chinese." Chinoise.

Note: chinoise is the feminine form of chinois.

Together, Je suis chinoise. "I'm Chinese." Je suis chinoise.

All together, Je ne suis pas japonaise, je suis chinoise. "I'm not Japanese. I'm Chinese."

Je ne suis pas japonaise, je suis chinoise.

This pattern is

Je suis NATIONALITY, je suis ACTUAL NATIONALITY.

I'm NATIONALITY. I’m ACTUAL NATIONALITY.

This can be shortened to

Non, je suis NATIONALITY.

No, I'm NATIONALITY.

Remember this shortened pattern. You’ll need it for the practice section.

Let’s review the key vocabulary.

In French, adjectives of nationality can change based on gender. We provide the masculine word for the nationality followed by the feminine one.

"French."

Francais. Francais.

Francaise. Francaise.

"American."

Américain.. Américain.

Américaine. Américaine.

"Australian."

Australien.. Australien.

Australienne. Australienne.

"British."

Anglais. Anglais.

Anglaise. Anglaise.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say "yes?"

Oui.

Do you remember the word for an American woman?

américaine

Do you remember how Constance Collin says,

"Yes, I'm American."

Oui, je suis américaine.

Do you remember the formal word for "you?"

Vous.

Do you remember how Hugues Henry asks,

"Are you American?"

Êtes-vous américaine ?

Do you remember the word for an English man?

Anglais.

And the word for an Australian woman?

Australienne.

Do you remember the word for a French man?

francais

And how to say "No?"

Non.

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Coralie Collin , and you’re American, or américaine in French.

Respond to the question.

Ready?

Êtes-vous américaine ?

Oui, je suis américaine.

Listen again and repeat.

Oui, je suis américaine.

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Mia Martin , a student from Australia, "Australian" is australienne in French.

Pay attention to the nationality in the question.

Ready?

Êtes-vous anglaise ?

Non, je suis australienne.

Listen again and repeat.

Non, je suis australienne.

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Jack Jones , a student from England. "English" is anglais in French.

Ready?

Êtes-vous anglais ?

Oui, je suis anglais.

Listen again and repeat.

Oui, je suis anglais.

In written French, adjectives describing nationality always begin with a lowercase letter.

In this lesson, you learned how to talk about your nationality in French. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of introducing yourself. Let’s review.

Do you remember how Constance Collin says,

"My name is Constance."

Je m'appelle Constance.

And do you remember how Constance says

"My name is Constance. Nice to meet you."

Je m'appelle Constance. Enchantée !

And how to say "come?"

viens

Do you remember how Constance says,

"I'm from Miami."

Je viens de Miami.

Do you remember how to say "from where?"

d’où

And the formal word for "you?"

vous

And do you remember how Hugues Henry asks,

"Where are you from?"

D’où venez-vous ?

Imagine you're Jack Jones , from London.

Do you remember how to pronounce "Jack Jones" in French?

Jack Jones

Respond to Hugues Henry 's self-introduction and follow-up question…

Ready?

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Hugues. Enchanté.

Je m'appelle Jack. Enchanté.

Listen again and repeat.

Je m'appelle Jack. Enchanté.

Do you remember how to say "London" in French?

Londres

Now respond that you’re from London.

D'où venez-vous ?

Je viens de Londres.

Listen again and repeat.

Je viens de Londres.

And do you remember how to say "English" as in an English person in French?

anglais

Now respond that you’re English.

Êtes-vous anglais ?

Oui, je suis anglais.

Listen again and repeat.

Oui, je suis anglais.

Well done! This is the end of the lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to talk about your nationality, an essential skill for introducing yourself.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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