tu étais

you were

→ tu
phrase Very common #1,123
you were Imperfect form of être used with tu. It refers to a past state, condition, or ongoing situation, and tu is the informal singular form of 'you'.
FR: Tu étais chez moi hier soir.
EN: You were at my place last night.

Quand tu as débarqué chez les AA, je savais exactement qui tu étais.

When you arrived at AA, I knew exactly who you were.

— Reconnu coupable (2026)

Tu étais super.

You were great.

Tu étais fatiguée.

You were tired.

Veux-tu que je te renvoie tu étais?

Do you want me to send you back to where you were?

— Princess Bride (1987)

Tu étais censé être à la maison depuis longtemps.

You were supposed to be home a long time ago.

Je ne savais pas tu étais.

I didn’t know where you were.

Quelle sorte de musique écoutais-tu lorsque tu étais adolescent?

What kind of music did you listen to when you were a teenager?

Tu étais tout petit?

Were you very young?

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Tu étais obligé d'en faire autant!

Did you really have to go that far?

— PIKU (2015)

Je n'ai pas pensé que tu étais chez toi.

I didn't think you were home.

Tu étais heureux.

You were happy.

Tu étais comment à son âge?

What were you like at her age?

— Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

Ce boulot, tu étais fait pour ça.

This job was made for you.

Mais tu as consacré quatre temples, c'est presque comme si tu étais avec nous.

But you dedicated four temples, it’s almost as if you were with us.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Parce que tu étais trop loin.

Because you were too far away.

— Une journée particulière (1977)

Continue ce que tu étais en train de faire.

Continue what you were doing.

Tu étais utile.

You were useful.

Tu étais pas avec elle?

Weren't you with her?

— Ne le dis à personne (2006)

Tu étais jaloux de moi.

You were jealous of me.

Tu étais de loin mon animal préféré.

You were by far my favorite animal.

— Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

J'ai entendu dire que tu étais saoul.

I heard that you were drunk.

Tu étais amoureux d'elle?

Were you in love with her?

Je ne pensais pas que tu étais chez toi.

I didn’t think you were home.

Tu étais à la maison hier, n'est-ce pas?

You were at home yesterday, weren’t you?

Tu étais serveur.

You were a waiter.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Hier, tu étais surprise que je sois vivante.

Yesterday, you were surprised that I was alive.

— La Double Vie de Véronique (1991)

Tu étais le roi ici.

You were the king here.

— Le Tao de Steve (2000)

C'était dur parce que tu étais si loin.

It was hard because you were so far away.

— Your Name. (2016)

As-tu eu besoin d'une aide spéciale lorsque tu étais à l'école?

Did you need any special assistance when you were in school?

Une trace de ce que tu étais autrefois?

A trace of what you once were?

— 28 Ans plus tard : Le Temple des morts (2026)

Tu étais en train de dormir, n'est-ce pas?

You were sleeping, weren't you?

Même si tu étais femme, tu ne serais pas moins idiot.

Even if you were a woman, you wouldn't be any less of an idiot.

— Princesse Mononoké (1997)

Tu étais avec ta mère?

Were you with your mother?

— Une seconde mère (2015)

Et toi, tu étais ?

And where were you?

Tu étais son seul ami.

You were his only friend.

Mary m'a dit que tu étais un artiste.

Mary told me that you were an artist.

— Retour à Silent Hill (2026)

Tu étais fantastique.

You were fantastic.

Tu étais censé dire une chose dès que tu entends cette sonnerie.

You were supposed to say something as soon as you heard that ringtone.

— Old Boy (2003)

Vu que tu n'es pas surpris, je pense que tu étais au courant.

Since you're not surprised, I think you already knew.

Tu étais mon seul espoir.

You were my only hope.

— Astérix & Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre (2002)

Je sais que tu étais à Boston, le week-end dernier.

I know you were in Boston last weekend.

Tu étais heureuse avec moi, dis?

You were happy with me, weren't you?

— Lady Vengeance (2005)

Tu étais comme mon fils.

You were like my son.

— Séquences et conséquences (2000)

Je n'avais pas idée que tu étais impliqué.

I had no idea you were involved.

Tu étais un génie.

You were a genius.

— La Famille Tenenbaum (2001)

Tu étais parfaite.

You were perfect.

Ethan, tu étais à Atlanta pour affaires ou loisirs?

Ethan, were you in Atlanta for business or leisure?

Tu étais jalouse de moi.

You were jealous of me.

Tu étais dans le train?

Were you on the train?

De tous ces orphelins, tu étais toujours le plus triste.

Of all those orphans, you were always the saddest.

— L'Échine du diable (2001)

J'ai entendu dire que tu étais bon en français.

I heard you were good at French.

Tu étais adolescent à l'époque.

You were a teenager at the time.

Tu étais à des millions de kilomètres d'ici.

You were a million miles away.

Tu étais quelqu'un dans l'histoire religieuse?

Were you someone in religious history?

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Dis à ces deux messieurs tu étais vendredi, le jour de l'embuscade.

Tell these two gentlemen where you were on Friday, the day of the ambush.

— Le vent se lève (2006)

Tu étais le plus adroit.

You were the most skillful.

J'ai toujours su que tu étais différent.

I've always known you were different.

— Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Je savais que tu étais un homme sensé.

I knew you were a sensible man.

Tu étais en fac à Chen-Kong?

Did you go to university at Chen-Kong?

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

Comme si tu étais vieille.

As if you were old.

— The World (2004)

Tu étais avec lui, et il est mort?

You were with him, and he died?

— Une femme fantastique (2017)

Ne fais pas comme si tu étais surpris.

Don’t act like you’re surprised.

Si seulement tu étais plus fort.

If only you were stronger.

— Avatar (2009)

Tu étais simplement au mauvais endroit, au mauvais moment.

You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Quand je t'aidais, tu étais content, non!

When I was helping you, you were happy, weren't you!

— Huit et demi (1963)

J'ai pensé que tu étais sérieuse.

I thought you were serious.

On m'a dit que tu étais une experte.

I was told you were an expert.

Tu sais avec qui tu étais?

Do you know who you were with?

— Carandiru (2003)

Tu étais encore debout jusqu'à quatre heures?

Were you still up until four o'clock?

Tu étais blessée, n'est-ce pas?

You were hurt, weren't you?

J'ai cru que tu étais mort au motel, mec!

I thought you were dead at the motel, man!

— La Cité de Dieu (2002)

Tu étais tellement fort.

You were so strong.

Je n'ai pas pris conscience que tu étais éveillé.

I didn't realize you were awake.

Tu étais malade?

Were you sick?

Tu étais génial.

You were awesome.

Tu étais chez toi hier?

Were you at home yesterday?

Toi, tu étais affreux.

You were awful.

— Il était Temps (2013)

Ne fais jamais comme si tu étais surpris quand le tour fonctionne vraiment.

Never act surprised when the trick actually works.

— Insaisissables 3 (2025)

Tu étais très occupée, n'est-ce pas?

You were very busy, weren't you?

Tu étais , en vrai?

Where were you, really?

— Nobody Knows (2004)

Tu étais inconscient.

You were unconscious.

Je lui ai dit que tu étais en congé.

I told him/her that you were on leave.

— Kiki la petite sorcière (1989)

Tu étais dans le coup, Pagoda?

Were you in on it, Pagoda?

— La Famille Tenenbaum (2001)

Tu étais Elvis.

You were Elvis.

— Le Tao de Steve (2000)

Hier soir tu étais différente.

Last night you were different.

— Tesis (1996)

Tu étais vraiment prêt à me piéger dans une éternité?

Were you really prepared to trap me in an eternity?

— Pour l'éternité (2025)

Tu étais plus propre avant.

You were cleaner before.

— Chungking Express (1994)

Tu veux me dire tu étais hier soir?

Do you want to tell me where you were last night?

Tu étais la plus belle femme, ce soir.

You were the most beautiful woman tonight.

Tu leur as dit qui tu étais?

Did you tell them who you were?

Tu étais avec Hyun-seo?

Were you with Hyun-seo?

— The Host (2006)

Avant de démissionner, je t'avais dit que tu étais nul.

Before resigning, I told you that you were useless.

— Battle Royale (2000)

Tu étais si belle, chérie.

You were so beautiful, darling.

— Pour l'éternité (2025)

Tu étais le seul?

Were you the only one?

— Insaisissables 3 (2025)

Tu étais enceinte.

You were pregnant.

Tu étais blanc comme un drap.

You were as white as a sheet.

— Princesse Mononoké (1997)

J'espérais que tu étais éveillé.

I was hoping you were awake.

Tu étais superbe.

You were superb.

J'ai simplement pensé que tu étais heureux.

I simply thought you were happy.

Tu étais fatiguée?

Were you tired?

— Chungking Express (1994)

Tu étais censée être mon amie!

You were supposed to be my friend!

Je me demandais si tu étais libre demain.

I was wondering if you were free tomorrow.

Tu étais très bien.

You were very good.

Tu étais occupé.

You were busy.

Tu étais hier à la maison, n'est-ce pas?

You were at home yesterday, weren't you?

Et chez les Pionniers, tu étais chef de troupe.

And in the Pioneers, you were a troop leader.

— Good Bye Lenin! (2003)

Tu étais d'accord.

You agreed.

Dis-moi où tu étais et ce que tu as fait.

Tell me where you were and what you did.

Attends, tu étais avec Kaneda.

Wait, you were with Kaneda.

— Akira (1988)

Je t'ai regardée longtemps, tu étais belle!

I watched you for a long time; you were beautiful!

— Manon des sources (1986)

Tu étais pas chez toi!

You weren't at home!

— Memories of Murder (2003)

Tu étais jaloux?

Were you jealous?

— Pixote, la loi du plus faible (1980)

Dong-soo, tu étais de service hier?

Dong-soo, were you on duty yesterday?

— Les Bonnes étoiles (2022)

Je savais que tu étais derrière.

I knew you were behind it.

Tu étais destinée à être ici.

You were meant to be here.

J'ai entendu dire que tu étais saoule.

I heard that you were drunk.

Tu étais au courant de ça?

Were you aware of that?

Je ne pensais pas que tu étais occupé.

I didn’t think you were busy.

Je voulais voir qui tu étais d'abord.

I wanted to see who you were first.

Tu étais épuisé.

You were exhausted.

Tu étais seul dans la salle des serveurs.

You were alone in the server room.

— Qui suis-je (2014)

Tu étais le seul ami de Tom.

You were Tom’s only friend.

Tu étais en train de mourir mais le médecin t'a sauvé la vie.

You were dying, but the doctor saved your life.

Eh bien, il y a pas si longtemps, tu étais sûr de vouloir revenir.

Well, not so long ago, you were sure you wanted to come back.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Tu étais beau.

You were handsome.

Et toi, tu étais sous terre.

And you, you were underground.

— Peaky Blinders : L'Immortel (2026)

Tu étais spécial, pour moi.

You were special to me.

— Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba - Le film : La Forteresse infinie (2025)

Tu étais là-bas, n'est-ce pas?

You were there, weren't you?

As-tu dit à Thomas pourquoi tu étais en retard?

Did you tell Thomas why you were late?

Tu étais fatigué, hier soir?

Were you tired last night?

Tu étais censé mourir.

You were supposed to die.

— Roma (2018)

Où est-ce que tu étais?

Where were you?

Tu parles comme si tu étais fonctionnaire!

You talk as if you were a civil servant!

— Departures (2008)

Où diable tu étais jeudi?

Where the hell were you on Thursday?

— Des étoiles sur la terre (2007)

Je veux juste savoir tu étais.

I just want to know where you were.

— The World (2004)

Mais à l'époque tu étais heureux?

But were you happy back then?

— Ouvre les yeux (1997)

Tu étais tout bizarre.

You were acting really strange.

— The Strangers (2016)

Tu étais mort.

You were dead.

— Princess Bride (1987)

Tu étais heureuse, n'est-ce pas?

You were happy, weren't you?

Est-ce que tu étais heureuse des résultats?

Were you happy with the results?

Tu étais comme un fils pour moi.

You were like a son to me.

Je n'avais pas idée que tu étais impliquée.

I had no idea you were involved.

Hsia-hou, tu étais ambitieux mais, après la mort, tu n'es toujours personne.

Hsia-hou, you were ambitious, but even after death, you’re still nobody.

— Histoires de fantômes chinois (1987)

Tu étais un si grand buveur.

You were such a heavy drinker.

— Le Maître d'armes (2006)

Après ta mort, tu seras ce que tu étais avant ta naissance.

After you die, you will be what you were before you were born.

Tu étais jalouse, n'est-ce pas?

You were jealous, weren't you?

Tu étais dans un orchestre, aussi, c'est ça?

You were in an orchestra too, right?

— Departures (2008)

J'ai entendu dire que tu étais punie.

I heard that you were punished.

Juca, tu étais ?

Juca, where were you?

— Je suis toujours là (2024)

Tu étais adorable.

You were adorable.

— La Femme de ménage (2025)

Dis-moi la raison pour laquelle tu étais absent de l'école hier.

Tell me why you were absent from school yesterday.

Dieu merci, tu étais .

Thank God you were there.

— Presque Célèbre (2000)

Tu étais à l'école avec Jin-Feng.

You were at school with Jin-Feng.

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

Je veux penser à toi comme tu étais.

I want to think of you as you were.

— Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (2007)

Tu étais quelque chose de pur, de noble, d'honnête, sans tache!

You were something pure, noble, honest, and spotless!

— Aucun autre choix (2025)

Tu étais le plus brillant à l'école.

You were the brightest at school.

— Le Tao de Steve (2000)

J'ai toujours su que tu étais un chic type.

I've always known you were a great guy.

Tu étais en retard au travail.

You were late for work.

Tu étais avec lui.

You were with him.

J'imagine que tu étais tout simplement M. Cool.

I guess you were just Mr. Cool.

Je sais où tu étais hier soir.

I know where you were last night.

Tu étais sincère?

Were you being sincere?

J'ai pensé que tu étais sérieux.

I thought you were serious.

Tu étais encore à l'hôpital.

You were still in the hospital.

— Ne le dis à personne (2006)

Tu étais blessée.

You were hurt.

J'ai cru que tu étais morte.

I thought you were dead.

— Toni Erdmann (2016)

Tu étais tellement géniale.

You were so awesome.

Tu étais merveilleuse aujourd'hui.

You were wonderful today.

Oui, et tu étais bien brutal.

Yes, and you were quite brutal.

— Romance de bureau (1977)

Tu disais que tu étais affamé.

You said you were hungry.

— Le Retour (2003)

Tu étais géniale au bureau.

You were great at the office.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Père Isaac, tu étais formidable dans le cortège.

Father Isaac, you were wonderful in the procession.

— Les Fraises sauvages (1957)

La dernière fois, tu étais toute petite.

Last time, you were very young.

— Whiplash (2014)

Tu étais chimiste?

Were you a chemist?

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

Toi, tu étais moche au lycée.

You were ugly in high school.

— The Big Sick (2017)

Te souviens-tu de ce que tu étais en train de regarder?

Do you remember what you were watching?

Tu étais un ami du garçon qui est mort?

Were you a friend of the boy who died?

— Pixote, la loi du plus faible (1980)

T'Challa, tu étais au courant?

T'Challa, did you know?

— Black Panther (2018)

Tu étais ?

Where were you?

— Séquences et conséquences (2000)

Tu m'as beaucoup manqué pendant que tu étais à Boston.

I missed you a lot while you were in Boston.

Alors, tu étais au courant?

So, you were aware of that?

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

Mais tu étais un héros pendant la guerre.

But you were a hero during the war.

— Porco Rosso (1992)

Tu étais incroyable.

You were amazing.

Je lui ai dit que tu étais vraiment déprimée.

I told him that you were really depressed.

— Le Tao de Steve (2000)

Tu étais dans le coup?

Were you involved?

— Wicked : Partie II (2025)

Tu étais Jésus.

You were Jesus.

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Qui est la gonzesse à laquelle tu étais en train de parler?

Who is the girl you were talking to?

Tu étais à Atlanta pour affaires ou loisirs?

Were you in Atlanta for business or leisure?

Quand on a commencé à sortir ensemble tu étais la fille la plus sympa qui soit.

When we started dating, you were the nicest girl ever.

— Picnic (1955)

Tu étais premier, tu es passé dernier, andouille.

You were first, you've gone to last, you idiot.

— Paddington 2 (2017)

Tu étais la seule amie de Tom.

You were Tom’s only friend.

Tom pensait que tu étais saoul.

Tom thought you were drunk.

Je savais que tu étais moderne, mais je voulais que tu le saches.

I knew you were modern, but I wanted you to know it.

— Le Conformiste (1971)

Tu étais effrayé, non?

You were scared, weren’t you?

Comme si tu étais amnésique.

As if you were suffering from amnesia.

— Your Name. (2016)

Tu étais avec Tom ce soir-là?

Were you with Tom that night?

Tu étais si belle.

You were so beautiful.

J'ai pensé que tu étais blessé.

I thought you were hurt.

Tu étais libéré de toute cette douleur.

You were free from all that pain.

— Retour à Silent Hill (2026)

On m'a dit que tu étais riche.

I was told you were rich.

phrase Uncommon #16,054
you were Imperfect tense of être; used with singular informal tu.
FR: Tu étais très gentil hier.
EN: You were very kind yesterday.

Si tu étais venue avec moi, ce ne serait pas arrivé.

If you had come with me, this wouldn't have happened.

— Sacrifices of War (2011)

Je ne savais pas que tu étais venu.

I didn’t know you had come.

tu étais passée?

Where had you been?

Que tu étais tombée enceinte.

That you had become pregnant.

— Volver (2006)

Je pensais que tu étais allé chez toi.

I thought you went home.

Où est-ce que tu étais passé?

Where had you been?

— Rise Roar Revolt (RRR) (2022)

Tu étais tombé au combat.

You had fallen in battle.

— Dune : Première partie (2021)

Je pensais que tu étais partie.

I thought you were gone.

Je me demandais où tu étais passé.

I was wondering where you'd gone.

Tu étais déjà venu à Sangam?

Had you been to Sangam before?

— Masaan (2015)

tu étais passé?

Where had you been?

— Les Affranchis (1990)

Tu étais venu pour me parler de Haemi, non?

You came to talk to me about Haemi, didn't you?

— Burning (2018)

Tu ne m'as jamais dit pourquoi tu étais restée ici.

You never told me why you stayed here.

— Pour l'éternité (2025)

Je pensais que tu étais allé dans ta chambre pour dormir.

I thought you went to your room to sleep.

J'ai cru que tu étais partie.

I thought you were gone.

— La piel que habito (2011)

Je croyais que tu étais partie.

I thought you left.

Je me demandais où tu étais passée.

I was wondering where you had gone.

— Souvenirs de Marnie (2014)

Tu étais passé ?

Where had you been?

Je pensais que tu étais allée chez toi.

I thought you went home.

Tu étais rentré à la maison.

You came home.

Je croyais que tu étais revenue chercher ton journal.

I thought you had come back to get your newspaper.

— Souvenirs de Marnie (2014)

Tu étais déjà venu dans ce club?

Had you been to this club before?

— Aquarius (2016)

Je pensais que tu étais rentré à l'appartement.

I thought you had gone back to the apartment.

— Ratatouille (2007)

Je pensais que tu étais venue t'excuser.

I thought you had come to apologize.

— Wicked : Partie II (2025)