French Phrase
Tu as honte ?
Meaning
This phrase literally translates to 'You have shame?' and is used to ask if someone feels guilty or embarrassed about something they did. It uses the verb 'avoir' (to have) followed by the noun 'honte' (shame), which is a standard French construction for expressing emotional states.
When to use
Use this in informal settings with friends or family when calling out someone's questionable behavior or teasing them about an embarrassing moment. It can range from a serious confrontation to lighthearted banter depending on the tone of your voice.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuashonte
Tu
The informal second-person singular pronoun 'you', used with friends, family, or children.
Avoir (as)
The verb 'to have' conjugated for 'tu'. French uses 'avoir' for many feelings where English uses 'to be'.
Honte
A noun meaning 'shame'. It starts with an 'aspirated h', meaning you do not make a liaison with the preceding word.
🗨In Conversation
J'ai mangé tout le gâteau de Paul sans lui dire.
I ate all of Paul's cake without telling him.
Tu as honte ?
Are you ashamed?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu es honte ?
Avoid using the verb 'être' (to be) here; French uses 'avoir' (to have) to express feeling shame.
Tu as la honte ?
In the idiomatic expression 'avoir honte', the noun is used without an article.
↔Alternatives
Est-ce que tu as honte ?
Are you ashamed? (More formal question structure)
T'as pas honte ?
Aren't you ashamed? (Commonly used to express disapproval)
Cultural Tip
In France, 'Tu as honte ?' is often used rhetorically to express moral disapproval of an action. Interestingly, younger generations frequently use the related phrase 'C'est la honte !' to describe something socially awkward or embarrassing.