French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Lonely" in French: seul(e)
seul(e)
Lonely in French is often seul or seule: Je me sens seul(e). Seul also means alone; tone and context tell loneliness from simply being by yourself.
After moving cities
Je me sens seul le dimanche soir.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce seul(e)
Say it
suhl
/sœl/
Suhl—eu like the vowel in French deux. Feminine seule adds a clear final consonant.
"Lonely" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| seul / seule | lonely / alone Gender agreement. | Gender agreement. |
| se sentir seul(e) | to feel lonely Emotion. | Emotion. |
| un peu seul | a bit lonely Softer. | Softer. |
| la solitude | loneliness / solitude Noun. | Noun. |
How to use seul(e) in real life
- 1After moving cities
Je me sens seul le dimanche soir.
I feel lonely on Sunday evenings.
Se sentir seul.
- 2Checking on a friend
Tu te sens seule depuis son départ ?
Have you felt lonely since he left?
Seule feminine.
- 3Honest chat
Parfois je suis seul, mais pas triste.
Sometimes I'm alone, but not sad.
Seul can mean alone without loneliness.
Mistakes English speakers make with seul(e)
Incorrect: Je suis lonely.
Correct: Je me sens seul. / Je suis seul.
Use seul/seule, not the English word.
Incorrect: Je me sens seul (said by a woman of herself)
Correct: Je me sens seule.
Agree: seule for feminine speaker.
Good to know
French distinguishes être seul (being alone) from se sentir seul (feeling lonely). Friends may ask Tu te sens seul(e) ? with real care after a breakup or move.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A quiet evening after roommates leave
ChatPal
Tu te sens seul ce soir ?
Do you feel lonely tonight?
You
Un peu seul, oui, l'appart est vide.
A bit lonely, yes—the flat is empty.
ChatPal
Je passe avec des pizzas si tu veux.
I'll come by with pizzas if you want.
You
Oui, s'il te plaît.
Yes, please.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Lonely" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lonely" in French
How do you say lonely in French?
Seul or seule; often Je me sens seul(e).
Is seul only lonely?
No—it also means alone; context matters.
What is the noun?
La solitude.
How does gender work?
Seul (m.), seule (f.).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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