How to Say ‘I'm having trouble with the math homework.’ in French
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
zh ay dyoo mal ah-VEK lay duh-VWAR duh mat
[zh ay dyoo mal ah-VEK lay duh-VWAR duh mat]
💬 Usage Tip: [Avoir du mal avec] is a very useful pattern for saying you are struggling with something. Swap the ending: [J'ai du mal avec le français.]
Phrase Breakdown
J'ai du mal
zh ay dyoo mal
I have difficulty / I’m struggling
A very common expression meaning something is hard for you.
J'ai du mal à comprendre.
I have trouble understanding.
Words in this phrase
J'
[zh]
I
Elided je before a vowel; it means I.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
ai
[ay]
have
From avoir; with j', it makes j'ai, meaning I have.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
du
[dyoo]
some / of the
Here du is part of the expression avoir du mal, meaning to have difficulty.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
mal
[mal]
difficulty / trouble
In avoir du mal, mal means difficulty or trouble, not simply bad.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
avec
[ah-VEK]
with
A preposition used to show what thing you have trouble with or are working with.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
Les devoirs
lay duh-VWAR
Homework / assignments
Refers to school work done at home.
Les devoirs sont difficiles.
The homework is difficult.
Words in this phrase
les
[lay]
the
Plural definite article used before plural nouns.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
devoirs
[duh-VWAR]
homework
School assignments to do at home or outside class.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
De maths
duh mat
In math / of math
Indicates the school subject math.
Les devoirs de maths.
Math homework.
Words in this phrase
de
[duh]
of / for
A preposition linking homework to the subject, as in homework for math.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
maths
[mat]
math
An informal short form of mathématiques, commonly used in school.
J'ai du mal avec les devoirs de maths.
I'm having trouble with the math homework.
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