French Phrase
Elle se sent pas bien, elle est un peu patraque.
Meaning
She doesn’t feel well; she’s a little under the weather. The sentence combines a simple statement of feeling (se sentir) with the colloquial adjective *patraque* to convey a mild illness.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversation when you’re describing someone’s temporary health problem—e.g., a friend who’s caught a cold, a coworker who looks pale, or a family member who’s feeling off‑balance.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ellesesentpasbien,elleestunpeupatraque.
Reflexive verb se sentir
The verb *se sentir* is used to talk about how someone feels physically or emotionally; it requires the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject.
Colloquial negation (no *ne*)
In everyday spoken French the particle *ne* is often dropped, leaving only *pas* after the verb.
Un peu = a little
The expression *un peu* softens an adjective, meaning ‘a little, somewhat’.
Patraque (informal)
*Patraque* is an informal adjective meaning ‘under‑the‑weather, feeling a bit ill’; it’s common in spoken French but avoided in formal writing.
🗨In Conversation
Comment va Marie aujourd’hui ?
How is Marie doing today?
Elle se sent pas bien, elle est un peu patraque.
She doesn’t feel well, she’s a little under the weather.
✕Common Mistakes
Elle se sent pas bien.
In formal writing you must keep the *ne*: *Elle ne se sent pas bien*.
Elle est patraque.
The adjective *patraque* needs a modifier like *un peu* or *légèrement* to sound natural; otherwise it sounds abrupt.
Elle sent pas bien.
Do not omit the reflexive pronoun; *Elle sent pas bien* is incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Elle ne se sent pas bien, elle est un peu malade.
She doesn’t feel well, she’s a little sick.
Elle ne va pas très bien, elle est légèrement patraque.
She isn’t feeling great, she’s slightly under the weather.
Elle se sent mal, elle a un petit rhume.
She feels bad, she has a slight cold.
Cultural Tip
Dropping the *ne* in negative sentences is typical of spoken French, especially among younger speakers. *Patraque* is a colloquial term you’ll hear in everyday conversation, but you’d replace it with *malade* or *souffrant* in a formal email or a medical report.