French Phrase
Mon micro est coupé.
Meaning
This phrase literally translates to 'My microphone is cut.' In modern usage, especially in the context of digital communication, it means 'My microphone is off' or 'My microphone is muted.' It's a common way to indicate that others cannot hear you.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase during online meetings, video calls, or gaming sessions when you realize that your microphone is not active and you need to inform others, or when someone asks why you're not speaking. It's a direct and clear way to state your audio status.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Monmicroestcoupé
Mon (Possessive Adjective)
'Mon' is a masculine singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, which in this case is 'micro'.
Micro (Noun)
'Micro' is a common abbreviation for 'microphone'. Despite ending in '-o', it is a masculine noun in French. Always use masculine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'le micro', 'un micro', 'mon micro').
Est (Verb 'être')
'Est' is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'être' (to be). It is used here to form a passive construction or to describe a state: 'My microphone is in a state of being cut/off'.
Coupé (Past Participle)
'Coupé' is the past participle of the verb 'couper' (to cut). In this context, it functions as an adjective describing the state of the microphone, meaning 'off' or 'muted'. It agrees in gender and number with 'micro', which is masculine singular, so it remains 'coupé'.
🗨In Conversation
Pierre, tu es là? On ne t'entend pas.
Pierre, are you there? We can't hear you.
Ah, désolé! Mon micro est coupé.
Oh, sorry! My microphone is off/muted.
✕Common Mistakes
Ma micro est coupé.
The word 'micro' is a masculine noun (short for 'microphone'), so it should be preceded by the masculine possessive adjective 'mon', not 'ma'.
Mon micro est éteint.
While 'éteint' means 'off' (like for a light or device), 'coupé' is the more idiomatic and common term used for a microphone being muted or turned off in French.
↔Alternatives
Je suis en muet.
I am on mute.
Mon son est coupé.
My sound is off/muted.
On ne m'entend pas.
One cannot hear me.
Cultural Tip
In French professional settings, especially during virtual meetings, it's considered polite to keep your microphone muted when you're not speaking to avoid background noise. This phrase is frequently used as a quick explanation when you unmute yourself to speak, or when there's a delay in your response because you were muted. It's a very common expression in today's digital-first communication.