French Phrase
Je t'écoute, vraiment.
Meaning
Literally “I am listening to you, really.” The speaker is reassuring the listener that they are paying full attention and taking the conversation seriously.
When to use
Use this sentence when someone feels unheard or doubts your attention. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts, such as a friend venting, a colleague explaining a problem, or a therapist confirming they are present.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jet'écoute,vraiment.
Subject pronoun (Je)
The first‑person singular subject pronoun, always placed before the verb.
Object pronoun contraction (t')
The direct object pronoun "te" contracts to "t'" before a vowel or mute h, as in "t'écoute".
Verb (écouter) – present tense
"écouter" means “to listen to”. In the present tense, the first‑person singular form is "j'écoute"; with a direct object pronoun it becomes "je t'écoute".
Adverb (vraiment)
"vraiment" means “really” or “truly” and is used to add emphasis.
Punctuation
A comma before "vraiment" creates a short pause, mirroring spoken French.
🗨In Conversation
Je t'écoute, vraiment.
I'm listening to you, really.
Merci, ça me rassure.
Thanks, that reassures me.
✕Common Mistakes
Je écoute, vraiment.
Missing the object pronoun; it means you are listening in general, not to the person.
Je t'écoutes, vraiment.
Verb agreement error – "écouter" does not take an -s in the first‑person singular.
Vraiment, je t'écoute.
Placing "vraiment" before the verb changes the nuance; it would read as “really, I listen to you.”
↔Alternatives
Je t'entends, vraiment.
I hear you, really.
Je suis vraiment à l'écoute.
I am truly attentive.
Je te prête toute mon attention.
I give you my full attention.
Cultural Tip
In French, adding "vraiment" after a statement adds sincerity but can also sound a bit emphatic. It’s perfectly natural in supportive conversations, but avoid overusing it in formal business meetings where a simple "Je vous écoute" may be preferred. Also, remember the contraction "t'" – saying "Je écoute" without the pronoun sounds like you’re listening to the environment, not to the person speaking.