French Phrase
Mon gamin est malade.
Meaning
Literally, ‘My kid is sick.’ The sentence conveys that the speaker’s child is feeling unwell. Using ‘gamin’ adds a friendly, informal tone, as if speaking to a close friend or family member.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation when you want to tell someone that your child is ill, for example when calling a school, chatting with a neighbor, or explaining why you can’t attend an event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mongaminestmalade
Mon (possessive adjective)
‘Mon’ agrees with a masculine singular noun and means ‘my’. It changes to ‘ma’ before a feminine noun and to ‘mes’ for plural.
gamin (colloquial noun)
‘gamin’ is an informal word for ‘child’ or ‘kid’, usually masculine. It can be used affectionately for both boys and girls.
est (être, present)
‘est’ is the third‑person singular present of the verb ‘être’ (to be). It is used for statements of condition, identity, or location.
malade (adjective)
‘malade’ means ‘sick’ or ‘ill’. It does not change for gender when used as a predicate adjective after ‘être’.
🗨In Conversation
Mon gamin est malade.
My kid is sick.
Oh, j'espère qu'il se rétablira vite.
Oh, I hope he gets better quickly.
✕Common Mistakes
Mon gamin sont malade.
‘gamin’ is singular, so the verb must be singular ‘est’, not ‘sont’.
Mon gamin est malades.
‘malade’ does not agree in number when used after ‘être’; keep it singular.
Mon gamin est maladee.
The adjective ‘malade’ stays the same for masculine and feminine after ‘être’; do not add an extra ‘e’.
↔Alternatives
Mon enfant est malade.
My child is sick.
Mon petit est malade.
My little one is sick.
Mon fils est malade.
My son is sick.
Ma fille est malade.
My daughter is sick.
Cultural Tip
‘Gamin’ is a colloquial term that works well in spoken French and among friends, but it is considered too informal for official documents or formal conversations. In a medical setting or when speaking with a teacher, you’d likely use ‘enfant’ or specify the gender (fils/fille). Also, French speakers often say ‘Il est malade’ without repeating the subject when the context is clear.