PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
😴❓

How to Say ‘You must be tired’ in French

Tu dois être fatigué

tyoo dwah E-truh fa-tee-GAY

[tyoo dwah E-truh fa-tee-GAY]

💬 Usage Tip: Tu dois followed by a verb can mean "you must" in the sense of "surely you are", not just "you have to". Tu dois avoir faim means "you must be hungry".

Phrase Breakdown

Tu dois

tyoo dwah

You must

'Devoir' here expresses a supposition. Say 'tü DWAH'.

Example

Tu dois avoir faim.

You must be hungry.

Words in this phrase

Tu

[tyoo]

you

An informal singular pronoun used to address one person.

Example

Tu travailles dans une start-up ou une grande entreprise ?

Do you work in a start-up or a large company?

dois

[dwah]

must / have to

Form of 'devoir' for 'je', expressing obligation.

Example

Je dois partir.

I have to leave.

être fatigué

E-truh fa-tee-GAY

be tired

Say 'EH-truh fah-tee-GAY'. Add an 'e' ('fatiguée') when speaking to a woman; the sound stays the same.

Example

Je suis fatigué.

I'm tired.

Words in this phrase

être

[E-truh]

Be

A verb used to describe a state or condition, often used as an auxiliary verb.

Example

Ça va être réparé demain.

It will be fixed tomorrow.

fatigué

[fa-tee-GAY]

tired

Adjective; masculine form of 'fatiguée'.

Example

Je suis fatigué aujourd'hui.

I'm tired today.

Related guides

French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseSix basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer