Short answer
“I miss you” in French is Tu me manques
How to say I miss you in French?
How to say I miss you in French? The standard expression is 'Tu me manques'. The grammar is the opposite of English, because the person you miss becomes the subject of the verb 'manquer' — a literal reading is 'you are missing to me'. Use 'Tu me manques' with a partner, family member or close friend, and switch to 'Vous me manquez' for formal situations or when you are talking to more than one person. To intensify the feeling, add 'beaucoup' and say 'Tu me manques beaucoup'.
Common pairings
Tu me manques beaucoup — I miss you a lotTu me manques déjà — I already miss youTu me manques trop — I miss you so much (informal)Ça me manque — I miss it / I miss thatParis me manque — I miss Paris
How to use it
- Use 'Tu me manques' with one person you know well, such as a partner, friend or family member. Use 'Vous me manquez' when you need the polite 'vous' form or when you are speaking to more than one person.
- Never copy the English word order in French. The person or thing you miss is the subject of 'manquer', so 'Tu me manques' literally means 'you are missing to me'.
- To make the phrase stronger, add 'beaucoup' after the verb: 'Tu me manques beaucoup' means 'I miss you a lot'. In casual speech, 'Tu me manques trop' also works.
Examples
Tu me manques.
I miss you.
Literally 'you are missing to me' — the subject is the person you miss. This is the standard, everyday phrase.
Vous me manquez, Madame.
I miss you, ma'am.
The verb takes the 'vous' form when you are being formal or addressing several people. 'Madame' reinforces the polite tone.
Tu me manques beaucoup.
I miss you a lot.
'Beaucoup' (a lot) goes right after the verb. In casual speech, 'Tu me manques trop' also works.
Paris me manque.
I miss Paris.
Places and things follow the same pattern: 'Paris' is the subject, 'me' is the person who misses it.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tu me manques | In French, the person who is missed is the subject. 'Je te manque' actually reverses the meaning and translates as 'You miss me'. | |
| Tu me |
Tu me manques | With 'tu', the verb 'manquer' takes an '-s' ending. Leaving it out is a common spelling error in texts and informal writing. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tu me manques | 'Manquer de' means 'to lack' or 'to be short of' something, so this sounds like a literal English translation and is not idiomatic for missing a person. |
FAQ
- How to say I miss you in FrenchThe standard way is 'Tu me manques'. The point to remember is that the person you miss is the subject, so the phrase literally means 'you are missing to me'.
- Why does 'Je te manque' mean 'you miss me'?Because in French the person who is missed is the subject. 'Je te manque' means 'I am missing to you', so if you want to say 'I miss you', put 'tu' first: 'Tu me manques'.
- Is 'Tu me manques' formal or informal?It is informal, because it uses 'tu'. For a formal situation, or when addressing several people, say 'Vous me manquez'.
- How do you say 'I miss you a lot' in French?Say 'Tu me manques beaucoup'. In casual conversation, 'Tu me manques trop' also conveys 'I miss you so much'.