A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I miss you" in French
Express deep longing for someone's presence with this essential French phrase.
Tu me manques.
too muh mahnkcasual
French TTS · 0:01
Say this when you're genuinely missing someone you have a close relationship with. It's perfect for a partner, family member, or very close friend you haven't seen in a while.
Alternatives
- Je pense à toi.Use this for a lighter, more frequent expression of thinking about someone.
- J'ai hâte de te revoir.This means 'I can't wait to see you again' and focuses on the future meeting.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'manques' like 'mank'
The 'ques' ending has a nasal vowel sound, similar to the 'an' in 'want' but more from the nose.
Using 'Je manque toi'
The structure is 'X me manque' (X is missing to me), not 'I miss X'.
A small cultural note
While direct expressions of emotion are common, 'Tu me manques' is typically reserved for romantic partners or very close family. It's not usually said casually to friends you see regularly.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say I miss you to a friend?
For a friend, 'Tu me manques' is still appropriate if you are very close and haven't seen them in a while. Otherwise, 'Je pense à toi' (I'm thinking of you) is a good alternative.
Is 'Tu me manques' romantic?
It can be, especially between partners. However, it's also used for close family members or friends you are genuinely missing.
What if I want to say 'I miss you a lot'?
You can add 'beaucoup' or 'énormément' for emphasis: 'Tu me manques beaucoup' or 'Tu me manques énormément'.
What does the French say instead of "I miss you"?
The most common way to say "I miss you" in French is "Tu me manques".
Is it correct to say "je te manque"?
No, "je te manque" is grammatically incorrect for "I miss you". The subject and object are reversed in the French construction.
Why do the French say "tu me manques"?
The literal translation of "tu me manques" is "you are missing from me", which conveys the feeling of missing someone.
How do you say "I miss you" in French to a woman?
You say "Tu me manques" to a woman, just as you would to a man. The phrase doesn't change based on gender.
How do you say "I love and miss you" in French?
You can say "Je t'aime et tu me manques" to express both love and missing someone.
