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French Phrase

Je me sens pas bien.

/ʒə mə sɑ̃ pa bjɛ̃/
Meaning"I don’t feel well."
💡

Meaning

Literally, 'I feel not well.' It is the everyday way to say you are feeling ill, tired, or generally unwell.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you want to tell someone you’re feeling sick, have a headache, or just aren’t at your usual level of comfort. It’s common in casual conversation, at the doctor’s office, or when calling in sick to work.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Jemesenspasbien

1

Je

Subject pronoun meaning 'I'.

2

me

Reflexive pronoun that pairs with the verb sentir to indicate the subject feels something.

3

sens

First‑person singular present of the verb sentir (to feel).

4

pas

Part of the negation construction; in spoken French the preceding 'ne' is often dropped.

5

bien

Adverb meaning 'well' or 'good'. In a negative sentence it conveys 'not well'.

🗨In Conversation

A

Tu as l'air fatigué, tout va bien ?

You look tired, is everything okay?

Non, je me sens pas bien.

No, I don’t feel well.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Je sens pas bien.

    Missing the reflexive pronoun 'me' changes the meaning to 'I sense not well' which is ungrammatical.

  • Je me sens pas bien.

    In formal writing you should include the 'ne' (Je ne me sens pas bien).

  • Je ne me sens bien pas.

    The negation 'pas' must follow the verb, not the adverb.

↔Alternatives

  • Je ne me sens pas bien.

    I don’t feel well.

  • Je ne vais pas bien.

    I’m not doing well.

  • Je me sens mal.

    I feel bad.

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Cultural Tip

In spoken French the 'ne' of the negative construction is frequently omitted, especially in informal settings. However, in written or formal contexts you should keep the full form 'Je ne me sens pas bien.' Using the full form also signals a higher level of politeness, which can be important when speaking to a doctor or a superior.