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How to Say ‘That's kind, but I'm on antibiotics.’ in French

C'est gentil, mais je suis sous antibiotiques.

s eh zhahn-tee meh zhuh swee soo ahn-tee-byo-TEEK

[s eh zhahn-tee meh zhuh swee soo ahn-tee-byo-TEEK]

🇫🇷 In France: Turning down wine at a family table often brings gentle insistence. Opening with C'est gentil and giving a medical reason closes the topic without any awkwardness.

Phrase Breakdown

C'est gentil,

s eh zhahn-tee

That's kind,

A polite opening before turning something down. Pause at the comma.

Example

C'est gentil, merci.

That's kind, thank you.

Words in this phrase

[s]

it / this

"C'" stands for "ce" and means "it" or "this" in expressions like "c'est."

Example

C'est agréable de parler avec une équipe accueillante.

It's pleasant to speak with a welcoming team.

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

gentil

[zhahn-tee]

kind; nice

An adjective used to describe someone as kind or nice.

Example

Le voisin est gentil et il essaie d'aider avec le chauffe-eau.

The neighbor is kind and he is trying to help with the water heater.

mais je suis

meh zhuh swee

but I am

'Mais' means 'but' and sounds like 'may'. The 's' is silent here.

Example

Mais je suis en retard !

But I'm late!

Words in this phrase

mais

[meh]

But

Used to introduce a contrast.

Example

Il est petit mais fort.

He is small but strong.

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

suis

[swee]

First person singular present of 'to be'.

Example

Je suis fatigué.

I am tired.

sous antibiotiques.

soo ahn-tee-byo-TEEK

on antibiotics.

Make the liaison 'sous‿antibiotiques' with a 'z' sound.

Example

Elle est sous antibiotiques.

She is on antibiotics.

Words in this phrase

sous

[soo]

on (under)

Literally 'under'; 'sous antibiotiques' means taking antibiotics.

Example

Il est sous traitement.

He is on treatment.

antibiotiques

[ahn-tee-byo-TEEK]

antibiotics

Medicines that fight bacterial infections.

Example

Le médecin m'a donné des antibiotiques.

The doctor gave me antibiotics.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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