B2 Idiom Neutral 2 Min. Lesezeit

être du matin

To be uncomfortable

Wörtlich: To be of the morning

Use this to describe your morning energy levels or to politely explain why you're not a morning person.

In 15 Sekunden

  • Used to describe someone who is a 'morning person'.
  • Commonly used in the negative to explain morning grumpiness.
  • Refers to energy levels and biological rhythms, not physical comfort.

Bedeutung

Contrary to the provided translation, this actually means being a 'morning person.' It describes someone who feels energized and productive early in the day.

Wichtige Beispiele

3 von 6
1

Planning a trip with friends

On peut partir à 6h, je suis très du matin !

We can leave at 6 AM, I'm very much a morning person!

🤝
2

A colleague asks for a meeting

Désolé, je ne suis pas vraiment du matin, on peut se voir à 11h ?

Sorry, I'm not really a morning person, can we meet at 11?

💼
3

Waking up in a bad mood

Ne me parle pas encore, tu sais que je ne suis pas du matin.

Don't talk to me yet, you know I'm not a morning person.

😄
🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

In France, the 'boulangerie' culture reinforces the value of being an early riser, as the best bread is often gone by mid-morning. The phrase reflects a traditional societal respect for those who start their day with the sun, often associated with productivity and 'joie de vivre'.

💡

The Negative is More Common

You will hear `Je ne suis pas du matin` much more often than the positive version. It's the standard French excuse for not being chatty before noon.

💬

The 'Grumpy' Nuance

In France, admitting you aren't 'du matin' is socially acceptable and even expected. It's almost a badge of honor for creative types or night owls.

In 15 Sekunden

  • Used to describe someone who is a 'morning person'.
  • Commonly used in the negative to explain morning grumpiness.
  • Refers to energy levels and biological rhythms, not physical comfort.

What It Means

Being être du matin means you are a natural early bird. You wake up with the sun. You feel sharp before your first coffee. It is about your biological clock. It describes your peak energy window. If you love sunrises, this is you.

How To Use It

You use it just like an adjective. Use the verb être followed by du matin. For example, Je suis du matin. It is very simple to conjugate. You can also use it in the negative. Je ne suis pas du matin is very common. It explains why you are grumpy at 7 AM. It is a great way to set expectations.

When To Use It

Use it when planning meetings. Use it when booking early flights with friends. It is perfect for job interviews. It shows you are reliable and punctual. Use it during small talk about habits. It helps people understand your lifestyle. If you are a student, use it for study groups.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use it for physical comfort. It is not about a soft chair. It is strictly about time and energy. Avoid it if you are a night owl. That would be être du soir. Do not use it to describe a single event. It describes a personality trait or habit. It is not for a one-time early wake-up.

Cultural Background

France has a strong culture of early starts. Bakeries open at dawn. Markets are busiest at 8 AM. Being du matin is seen as a virtue. It suggests discipline and a healthy life. However, modern French life is changing. Many young people now identify as du soir. There is a playful rivalry between the two groups. It is a classic icebreaker in France.

Common Variations

You can say lève-tôt for an early riser. The opposite is être un couche-tard. Some people say être un oiseau de nuit. That means a real night owl. You might hear n'être pas réveillé. That means you are still groggy. If you are extremely early, you are matinal. These all help describe your daily rhythm.

Nutzungshinweise

This phrase is extremely versatile and fits into almost any social register. Just remember it always uses the verb 'être' and the prepositional 'du'.

💡

The Negative is More Common

You will hear `Je ne suis pas du matin` much more often than the positive version. It's the standard French excuse for not being chatty before noon.

💬

The 'Grumpy' Nuance

In France, admitting you aren't 'du matin' is socially acceptable and even expected. It's almost a badge of honor for creative types or night owls.

⚠️

Don't confuse with 'matinal'

While `matinal` also means morning-oriented, `être du matin` is the more common, idiomatic way to describe your personality in conversation.

Beispiele

6
#1 Planning a trip with friends
🤝

On peut partir à 6h, je suis très du matin !

We can leave at 6 AM, I'm very much a morning person!

Expressing enthusiasm for an early start.

#2 A colleague asks for a meeting
💼

Désolé, je ne suis pas vraiment du matin, on peut se voir à 11h ?

Sorry, I'm not really a morning person, can we meet at 11?

Setting boundaries for productivity.

#3 Waking up in a bad mood
😄

Ne me parle pas encore, tu sais que je ne suis pas du matin.

Don't talk to me yet, you know I'm not a morning person.

A humorous warning to a partner or roommate.

#4 Describing a new baby's habits
😊

Le petit est déjà très du matin, il nous réveille à l'aube.

The little one is already a morning person, he wakes us at dawn.

Describing a child's natural rhythm.

#5 During a job interview
👔

Je suis quelqu'un du matin, j'aime commencer mes dossiers tôt.

I am a morning person, I like to start my files early.

Highlighting a positive professional trait.

#6 Feeling exhausted after an early shift
💭

Ce travail est dur quand on n'est pas du matin.

This job is hard when you aren't a morning person.

Expressing a personal struggle with a schedule.

Teste dich selbst

Choose the correct form to say 'I am not a morning person'.

Je ne ___ pas du matin.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: suis

The phrase uses the verb 'être' (to be).

Complete the sentence to describe a friend who loves early sunrises.

Marc adore l'aube, il est vraiment ___.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: du matin

'Du matin' is the correct term for an early bird.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Formality of 'être du matin'

Informal

Used with family and friends to explain grumpiness.

Moi, du matin ? Jamais !

Neutral

Standard way to describe your schedule.

Je suis plutôt du matin.

Formal

Used in workplace contexts to discuss shifts.

Je préfère les horaires du matin car je suis matinal.

When to say you are 'du matin'

être du matin
💼

At the Office

Scheduling an 8 AM call.

⛰️

On Vacation

Waking up for a sunrise hike.

Breakfast

Being the first one at the table.

📝

Job Interview

Showing you are a 'go-getter'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it has nothing to do with physical comfort. It refers to your energy levels and whether you function well early in the day.

Yes! You can say être du soir to mean you are a night owl who is most productive at night.

Not at all. It is a very common and polite way to explain why you might be quiet or slow to start in the morning.

You can use the adjective matinal. For example: Je suis très matinal sounds slightly more sophisticated than du matin.

The direct opposite is être du soir. You could also say être un couche-tard (a late-sleeper).

No, it is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your friends, or a stranger. It is perfectly safe for all situations.

No, that would mean 'I am a morning,' which makes no sense. You must include the du (of the).

Usually, it refers to the time between waking up and lunch (around 12 PM). If you are productive at 7 AM, you are definitely du matin.

Constantly! It is one of the most common ways to describe one's daily routine and personality.

Yes! You can use it for animals too. Mon chien est très du matin means your dog is ready to play at 5 AM.

Verwandte Redewendungen

être du soir (to be a night owl)

un lève-tôt (an early riser)

faire la grasse matinée (to sleep in)

avoir la tête dans le pâté (to be groggy/out of it)

être matinal (to be an early bird)

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