How do you say "I was / I got" in French?

"I was / I got" in French is "J'ai eu". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘I was / I got’ in French

Q: What does "J'ai eu" mean in English?

"J'ai eu" means "I was / I got" in English. Usage tip: French often says [j'ai eu peur] where English uses an adjective: 'I was scared.' The useful pattern is [avoir + noun]: [j'ai eu faim] (I got hungry), [j'ai eu peur] (I was scared).

J'ai eu

zh ay uh

[zh ay uh]

💬 Usage Tip: French often says [j'ai eu peur] where English uses an adjective: 'I was scared.' The useful pattern is [avoir + noun]: [j'ai eu faim] (I got hungry), [j'ai eu peur] (I was scared).

Phrase Breakdown

[zh]

Shortened form of je before a vowel.

Example

J' ai eu un vrai choc en voyant cette action.

I had a real shock when seeing that play.

[ay]

have

Form of avoir used with je in the passé composé.

Example

J'ai eu peur pendant les dernières secondes.

I was scared during the last seconds.

[uh]

had

Past participle of avoir; with j'ai eu, it means 'I had'.

Example

J'ai eu l'impression que le ballon allait entrer.

I had the impression that the ball was going to go in.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

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