Moi/toi/lui/elle = Me/you/him/her - simple cases (French Stress Pronouns)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2023-12-05

Just like in English we have 'I' and 'me' (but note, only 'you'), French uses these so-called singular Stress Pronouns.

Learn how to use stress pronouns in French

Subject Pronoun	Stress Pronoun
je I	moi me
tu you	toi you
il he	lui him
elle she	elle her

Note : elle is the same in both.

Simple uses of Stress pronouns

- extra emphasis

Moi, je m'appelle Tim.Me, my name is Tim.

Je veux une glace au chocolat mais elle, elle veut une glace à la vanille.I want a chocolate ice cream but she wants a vanilla ice cream.

Et toi, comment tu vas ?And you, how are you?

Note that in English, you would usually use intonation to mark emphasis.

- single word responses

Qui veut un cadeau ? Moi ! Moi !Who wants a present? - Me! - Me!

Lui ? Vraiment ?Him? Really?

Qui est ta copine ? - Elle.Who is your girlfriend? - She is.

- very simple sentences

Toi aussi !You too!

Non, pas elle !No, not her!

C'est lui !It's him!

See also the plural stress pronouns: Nous/vous/eux/elles = Us/you/them - simple cases (French Stress Pronouns)
and the more advanced lesson Moi/toi/lui/elle/soi/nous/vous/eux/elles - advanced usages (French Stress Pronouns)

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Pronom disjonctif

Examples and resources

Oui, c'est toi le menteur !Yes, you are the liar!
literally: Yes, it's you the liar!