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French Phrase

Ma matière préférée, c'est les maths.

/ma ma.tjɛʁ pʁe.fe.ʁe sɛ le ma.t͡s/
Meaning"My favorite subject is math."
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Meaning

This sentence means ‘My favorite subject is math.’ It emphasizes personal preference for a school subject, using the informal term ‘les maths’ for mathematics.

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When to use

Use this phrase when talking about school or university subjects, discussing what you enjoy studying, or comparing preferences with a friend.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mamatièrepréférée,c'estlesmaths.

1

Possessive adjective (ma)

‘Ma’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here ‘matière’ is feminine singular, so ‘ma’ is used.

2

Adjective agreement (préférée)

Adjectives agree with the noun they describe; ‘préférée’ takes a feminine singular ending –ée to match ‘matière’.

3

c’est + plural noun

The construction ‘c’est’ can be followed by a plural noun, and the article (les) stays unchanged.

4

Informal vs. formal term (maths / mathématiques)

‘les maths’ is the everyday spoken form; in formal writing you’d use ‘les mathématiques’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Quelle est ta matière préférée à l'école?

What’s your favorite subject at school?

Ma matière préférée, c'est les maths.

My favorite subject is math.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ma matière préférée, c'est le maths.

    ‘Maths’ is always plural in French, so the article must be ‘les’.

  • Ma matière préféré, c'est les maths.

    The adjective must agree with the feminine noun ‘matière’, so it should be ‘préférée’.

  • Ma matière préférée, c'est les math.

    ‘Math’ is not used in French; the correct noun is ‘les maths’ or ‘les mathématiques’.

↔Alternatives

  • Ma matière favorite, c'est les mathématiques.

    My favorite subject is mathematics.

  • J'adore les maths, c'est ma matière préférée.

    I love math, it’s my favorite subject.

  • Les maths, c’est ma matière préférée.

    Math is my favorite subject.

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Cultural Tip

In French, ‘les maths’ is the colloquial way to refer to mathematics, especially among students. In academic or formal contexts you’ll hear ‘les mathématiques’. Also, French speakers often use ‘c’est’ before a plural noun, which can feel odd to English learners who would say ‘they are’. Practicing the rhythm of the phrase helps sound natural.