Feeling a little drained? Whether you've pulled an all-nighter or just had a long day, sometimes "I'm tired" doesn't quite capture how you're truly feeling. In French, just like in English, there's a spectrum of ways to express fatigue, from a simple "je suis fatigué" to more nuanced expressions.

Learning these different phrases will not only enrich your vocabulary but also help you convey your exact state of exhaustion, making your conversations more natural and expressive.

Ready to expand your French vocabulary beyond the basics? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "I'm tired" in French, so you can perfectly describe your level of fatigue no matter the situation!

The standard way to say "I'm tired" – Je suis fatigué(e)

The standard way to say "I'm tired" – Je suis fatigué(e)

The phrase Je suis fatigué(e) is the most common and direct way to say "I'm tired" in French. It's your go-to expression for conveying general weariness.

Like many French adjectives, fatigué must agree in gender and number with the subject. This means: If you are male, you say fatigué; if you are female, you say fatiguée. For multiple people, it becomes fatigués (masculine plural or mixed group) or fatiguées (feminine plural).

The phrase uses the verb être (to be), which conjugates differently depending on the subject. Here's how it works: Je suis fatigué(e) (I am tired), Tu es fatigué(e) (You are tired), Il/Elle est fatigué(e) (He/She is tired), Nous sommes fatigués(es) (We are tired), Vous êtes fatigué(e)(s) (You are tired), Ils/Elles sont fatigués(es) (They are tired).

You can use Je suis fatigué(e) in almost any situation to express general physical or mental exhaustion. Whether it's from a long day at work, a lack of sleep, intense exercise, or just feeling drained, this phrase fits perfectly.

To emphasize your level of tiredness, you can use adverbs like très (very) or vraiment (really): Je suis très fatigué(e) (I am very tired). For extreme exhaustion, the word épuisé(e) (exhausted) is a strong alternative: Je suis épuisé(e) après cette randonnée (I am exhausted after this hike).

A common pitfall for English speakers is confusing fatigué(e) with ennuyé(e). While fatigué(e) means 'tired', ennuyé(e) means 'bored' (or sometimes 'annoyed' in older usage, but primarily 'bored' today). Make sure you don't say Je suis ennuyé(e) when you actually mean you need rest!

While Je suis fatigué(e) is the primary way to say 'I'm tired', you might also hear J'ai sommeil (literally 'I have sleep', meaning 'I am sleepy') when someone specifically needs to go to bed. Another expression for feeling completely worn out is Je n'en peux plus (I can't take any more/I'm worn out).

💡 *Je suis fatigué après une longue journée de travail. (I am tired after a long day of work.)
*Elle est fatiguée parce qu'elle n'a pas bien dormi. (She is tired because she didn't sleep well.)
*Nous sommes très fatigués après le marathon. (We are very tired after the marathon.)
*Es-tu fatigué(e) ? (Are you tired?)
*Les enfants sont fatigués et veulent aller au lit. (The children are tired and want to go to bed.)

The informal way to say "I'm wiped out" – Je suis crevé(e)

When you're absolutely exhausted and need an informal way to express it in French, look no further than Je suis crevé(e).

Literally, the verb crever can mean 'to burst' or 'to puncture' (like a tire). When used in the adjectival form crevé(e) with être, it translates to 'to be wiped out,' 'to be dead tired,' or 'to be pooped.'

This expression is highly informal and commonly used among friends, family, and in casual settings. It's perfect for conveying extreme fatigue without being overly formal or polite, making it a staple in everyday French conversation.

Crucially, crevé is an adjective, so it must agree in gender with the speaker. If you are female, you add an 'e' to crevé, saying Je suis crevée. A male would say Je suis crevé.

Je suis crevé(e) implies a level of exhaustion far beyond just 'tired' (fatigué(e)). It suggests you've pushed yourself to the limit, whether from intense work, strenuous exercise, or a severe lack of sleep. It's the French equivalent of 'I'm utterly spent' or 'I'm beat.'

💡 * Après avoir couru le marathon, j'étais complètement crevé. (After running the marathon, I was completely wiped out.)

• Je suis crevée, j'ai travaillé douze heures aujourd'hui. (I'm dead tired, I worked twelve hours today.)
• Les enfants étaient crevés après leur journée à la plage. (The children were wiped out after their day at the beach.)
• Tu as l'air crevé, tu devrais te reposer. (You look exhausted, you should rest.)
• On a fait une longue randonnée, je suis crevé ! (We went on a long hike, I'm wiped out!)

The way to say "I'm exhausted" – Je suis épuisé(e)

When you're beyond just tired and truly exhausted in French, the phrase you'll most commonly use is Je suis épuisé(e).

Épuisé(e) means completely drained, worn out, or utterly spent. It conveys a much stronger sense of fatigue than simply fatigué(e) (tired).

Like many French adjectives, épuisé agrees in gender with the speaker. A male speaker would say Je suis épuisé, while a female speaker would say Je suis épuisée (with an extra 'e' at the end, but pronounced the same).

You'd use Je suis épuisé(e) after a particularly long day, an intense workout, a period of little sleep, or when you feel completely worn out both physically and mentally.

While fatigué(e) simply means 'tired,' épuisé(e) emphasizes a state of extreme tiredness, where your energy reserves are completely depleted.

The most common way to express this state is using the verb être (to be) followed by the adjective: être épuisé(e). For example, Il est épuisé (He is exhausted), Nous sommes épuisés (We are exhausted).

For a very informal, slang way to say you're exhausted, you might hear Je suis crevé(e). This literally means 'I'm punctured' or 'busted' but is commonly used to mean 'I'm dead tired' or 'I'm knackered.'

💡 *Après avoir couru le marathon, je suis complètement épuisé. (After running the marathon, I am completely exhausted.)
*Elle est épuisée après une semaine de travail intense. (She is exhausted after a week of intense work.)
*Nous sommes épuisés par le voyage. (We are exhausted by the trip.)
*Tu dois être épuisée après avoir étudié toute la nuit. (You must be exhausted after studying all night.)
*Les enfants sont épuisés après leur journée à la plage. (The children are exhausted after their day at the beach.)

The informal way to say "I'm knackered" – Je suis claqué(e)

To express extreme tiredness in a casual, everyday French context, you'll often hear Je suis claqué(e). This phrase directly translates to 'I'm knackered' or 'I'm wiped out' in English, signifying a level of exhaustion beyond simple fatigue.

Like many French adjectives, claqué must agree in gender with the speaker. If you are male, you say Je suis claqué. If you are female, you say Je suis claquée (with an extra 'e' at the end).

Je suis claqué(e) is a very informal expression. It's much stronger than Je suis fatigué(e) (I am tired) and conveys a sense of being completely drained or exhausted. Use it among friends, family, or in very relaxed settings.

💡 *Après cette longue journée de travail, je suis complètement claqué. (After this long day of work, I'm completely knackered.)
*Elle a couru un marathon hier, elle est claquée. (She ran a marathon yesterday, she's wiped out.)
*On a dansé toute la nuit, on est claqués ! (We danced all night, we're knackered!)
*Je suis claquée après avoir fait toutes les courses. (I'm wiped out after doing all the groceries.)

The way to say "I'm worn out" – Je suis lessivé(e)

When you're utterly exhausted in French, beyond just being fatigué, you might say Je suis lessivé(e).

Lessivé(e) literally means 'washed out' or 'laundered,' but idiomatically it translates to 'worn out,' 'drained,' or 'spent' in English.

This expression conveys a strong sense of fatigue, often after intense physical or mental effort. It's more emphatic than simply saying Je suis fatigué(e) (I am tired).

Like many French adjectives, lessivé agrees in gender and number with the subject. If you are female, you would say Je suis lessivée (with an extra 'e').

Consider Je suis lessivé(e) to be on par with or even stronger than Je suis épuisé(e) (I am exhausted). It paints a vivid picture of feeling utterly depleted.

Use Je suis lessivé(e) in informal to semi-formal contexts when you want to express extreme tiredness, perhaps after a long day at work, an intense workout, or a sleepless night.

💡 *Après cette longue journée, je suis complètement lessivé. (After this long day, I'm completely worn out.)
*Elle a couru un marathon et maintenant elle est lessivée. (She ran a marathon and now she's worn out.)
*Les examens m'ont lessivé, je n'ai plus d'énergie. (Exams have worn me out, I have no more energy.)
*On a déménagé tout le week-end, on est lessivés ! (We moved all weekend, we're worn out!)

The way to say "I'm at the end of my strength" – Je suis à bout de forces

To express that you are completely exhausted, at your limit, or "at the end of your strength" in French, the most common and direct phrase is Je suis à bout de forces.

This expression goes beyond simple tiredness. It conveys a deep sense of being utterly drained, both physically and mentally, often implying that one can no longer continue or cope with a situation. It's about reaching a breaking point.

While à bout de forces specifically refers to strength, you might also hear related phrases like à bout de souffle (out of breath), à bout de nerfs (at the end of one's tether/nerves), or simply être épuisé(e) (to be exhausted), which is a general term for severe tiredness.

The structure is typically être à bout de [noun]. You conjugate the verb être (to be) according to the subject. Forces is a feminine plural noun. For example, Tu es à bout de forces (You are at the end of your strength) or Nous sommes à bout de forces (We are at the end of our strength).

Remember, Je suis à bout de forces is a strong statement. It's not for when you're just a little tired. Use it when you genuinely feel overwhelmed, overworked, or have pushed yourself to your absolute limit, whether physically from exertion or mentally from stress.

💡 *Après avoir travaillé 12 heures sans pause, je suis à bout de forces.
*Elle est à bout de forces avec tous les problèmes qu'elle rencontre en ce moment.
*Le coureur, après le marathon, s'est effondré, complètement à bout de forces.
*Je ne peux plus supporter ce stress, je suis à bout de forces.
*Nous étions à bout de forces après avoir déménagé tous les meubles.

The way to say "I can't take it anymore" (due to exhaustion) – Je n'en peux plus

When you're feeling utterly drained, physically or mentally, and simply can't continue, the French phrase you need is Je n'en peux plus. It directly translates to "I can't take it anymore" or "I'm exhausted."

This expression is specifically used to convey a state of extreme exhaustion, weariness, or being overwhelmed to the point of giving up. It's not about being annoyed, but truly unable to cope further due to fatigue or stress.

Je n'en peux plus is an idiomatic and very common way to express complete depletion in everyday French. The 'en' refers to the situation or effort causing the exhaustion.

💡 * Après avoir couru un marathon, je n'en peux plus. (After running a marathon, I can't take it anymore / I'm utterly exhausted.)

• J'ai travaillé douze heures d'affilée, je n'en peux plus. (I've worked twelve hours straight, I can't take it anymore.)
• Avec tous ces problèmes, je n'en peux plus, j'ai besoin de vacances. (With all these problems, I can't take it anymore, I need a vacation.)
• Les enfants ont fait beaucoup de bruit toute la journée, je n'en peux plus. (The kids made a lot of noise all day, I can't take it anymore.)

The way to say "I'm sleepy" – J'ai sommeil

To say "I'm sleepy" in French, the most natural and common expression is J'ai sommeil.

Literally, J'ai sommeil translates to 'I have sleep.' It employs the verb avoir (to have) and the masculine noun sommeil (sleep). This 'avoir + noun' construction is common for physical states in French.

Unlike English, where you 'are sleepy,' in French, you 'have sleepiness.' Therefore, avoid the direct translation Je suis sommeil, which is grammatically incorrect and would sound very strange to a native speaker.

This expression conjugates with avoir, so you'll say Tu as sommeil (You are sleepy), Il/Elle a sommeil (He/She is sleepy), Nous avons sommeil (We are sleepy), Vous avez sommeil (You are sleepy - plural/formal), and Ils/Elles ont sommeil (They are sleepy).

💡 * J'ai sommeil, je vais me coucher. (I'm sleepy, I'm going to bed.)

• Tu as sommeil ? Il est tard. (Are you sleepy? It's late.)
• Les enfants ont sommeil après une longue journée de jeux. (The children are sleepy after a long day of playing.)
• Quand j'ai sommeil, je bois un café. (When I'm sleepy, I drink a coffee.)

The more formal way to say "I'm extremely tired" – Je suis exténué(e)

To express being extremely or utterly tired in a formal context in French, the most appropriate phrase is Je suis exténué(e).

The adjective exténué (masculine singular) changes to exténuée (feminine singular) when referring to a female speaker or subject. The plural forms are exténués (masculine plural) and exténuées (feminine plural).

This phrase signifies a level of exhaustion far beyond simple tiredness. It implies being completely drained, worn out, or physically and mentally depleted. It's often used in more serious or formal discussions about one's state of being, or to emphasize a profound lack of energy.

While fatigué(e) simply means 'tired,' and crevé(e) (very informal) means 'dead tired,' exténué(e) conveys a more profound and often prolonged state of exhaustion, making it suitable for situations requiring a more precise and elevated vocabulary.

💡 *Après une longue journée de travail, je suis complètement exténué. (After a long day of work, I am completely exhausted.)
*Elle a couru un marathon et se sentait exténuée. (She ran a marathon and felt utterly worn out.)
*Nous étions exténués après avoir déménagé tous les meubles. (We were exhausted after moving all the furniture.)
*Les enfants étaient exténués après leur journée au parc d'attractions. (The children were worn out after their day at the amusement park.)
*Je suis exténuée, je n'ai pas dormi depuis 24 heures. (I am utterly tired, I haven't slept in 24 hours.)

Are there other ways to say 'I'm tired' in French?

Are there other ways to say "I'm tired" in French?

Our list features the most common ways to express "I'm tired" in French. But the language offers even more nuances, from old-fashioned expressions, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang terms this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire je suis fatigué en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting expressions for fatigue on this list. Of course, make sure to check an expression’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express being tired.

And if you’re looking for more ways to express fatigue, or words related to tiredness in French, the WordReference entry for fatigué is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Jules Renard: Le repos est le sel du travail. (Rest is the salt of work.)