French Phrase
J'ai hâte!
Meaning
Literally “I have eagerness,” this idiom expresses that the speaker is excited or looking forward to something that will happen soon. It conveys a positive anticipation and can be used for events, meetings, trips, or any upcoming activity.
When to use
Use it in informal spoken French and casual written contexts (texts, social media). It works well when you want to share your excitement with friends, family, or colleagues. In more formal writing you might prefer "Je suis impatient(e)".
✦Grammar Breakdown
J'aihâte
Contraction "J'"
"J'" is the contracted form of "je" before a vowel or mute h, used here before "ai".
Verb "avoir" (to have)
"ai" is the first‑person singular present of "avoir"; in this expression it forms a idiomatic phrase meaning "to be eager".
Noun "hâte"
"hâte" is a feminine noun meaning "eagerness"; the phrase literally translates to "I have eagerness".
Structure "avoir hâte de + infinitive"
When you want to specify what you are looking forward to, add "de" followed by an infinitive, e.g., "J'ai hâte de partir."
🗨In Conversation
J'ai hâte!
I can’t wait!
Moi aussi, le concert va être génial.
Me too, the concert is going to be great.
✕Common Mistakes
J'ai hâte à te voir.
The preposition after "hâte" is "de", not "à".
J'ai hâte que tu viens.
When followed by a clause, use the subjunctive after "que" (e.g., "J'ai hâte que tu viennes"). Many learners forget the subjunctive form.
J'ai hate!
Never omit the accent on "hâte"; it changes the meaning and looks like a typo.
↔Alternatives
Je suis impatient(e) !
I’m eager!
Je suis pressé(e) de le faire.
I’m looking forward to doing it.
Ça me tarde !
I’m looking forward to it!
Cultural Tip
In French, "avoir hâte" is the most common way to express anticipation. It always pairs with "de" before an infinitive (e.g., "J'ai hâte de partir"). Avoid using "à" after "hâte" – that construction is considered incorrect. Also, remember that "impatient" must agree in gender (impatiente) if you choose that alternative.