French Phrase
Je suis britannique
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to express British nationality in French. It combines the subject pronoun 'Je' (I) with the verb 'suis' (am) and the adjective 'britannique' (British). Notably, this adjective is invariable, meaning it does not change form based on the gender of the speaker.
When to use
Use this phrase when introducing yourself or answering questions about your origin in both formal and informal contexts. It is the correct term for any citizen of the United Kingdom, regardless of whether they are from England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jesuisbritannique
Être (suis)
'Suis' is the first-person singular present tense of 'être' (to be), one of the most important irregular verbs in French.
Invariable Adjective
The adjective 'britannique' ends in 'e' in its base form, so it stays the same for both masculine and feminine subjects.
🗨In Conversation
D'où venez-vous ?
Where do you come from?
Je suis britannique.
I am British.
✕Common Mistakes
Je suis un britannique
In French, you do not use an article (un/une) when stating your nationality or profession directly after the verb 'être'.
Je suis Britannique
In French, adjectives of nationality are not capitalized; capitalization is reserved for the noun form (e.g., un Britannique).
↔Alternatives
Je viens du Royaume-Uni
I come from the United Kingdom
Je suis d'origine britannique
I am of British origin
Cultural Tip
While 'britannique' is the most accurate term for someone from the UK, you will often hear French speakers use 'anglais' (English) as a generic term. However, using 'britannique' is preferred as it is more inclusive of all parts of the UK.