French stressed pronouns: moi, toi, lui, elle and more

French stressed pronouns, also called tonic pronouns, are moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles. Use them after prepositions, for emphasis, in short answers, and after c’est. They are different from subject pronouns: je parle (“I speak”), but avec moi (“with me”).

Use stressed pronouns after prepositions

After a preposition like avec, pour, sans, chez, à côté de or de, use the stressed form.

Tu viens avec moi ?
Are you coming with me?

Ce cadeau est pour elle.
This gift is for her.

This is why you say chez moi (“at my place”), not chez je.

Use them for emphasis and contrast

When you want to emphasize a person or contrast two people, use the stressed pronoun.

Moi, je préfère le thé. Lui, il préfère le café.
I prefer tea. He prefers coffee.

The subject pronoun still appears with the verb: moi, je…, toi, tu…. The stressed pronoun adds focus.

C’est moi, c’est lui

After c’est, use a stressed pronoun.

Qui est là ? — C’est moi.
Who is there? — It’s me.

C’est lui le professeur ?
Is he the teacher?

In short answers, the stressed pronoun can stand alone.

Qui vient ? — Moi.
Who is coming? — Me.

Common mistakes

Using je after a preposition

After a preposition, use moi, not je.

avec je → avec moi
with me

Forgetting the subject pronoun after emphasis

The stressed pronoun does not replace the subject before a conjugated verb in normal sentences.

Moi préfère le thé. → Moi, je préfère le thé.
I prefer tea.

Using ils instead of eux after a preposition

For “with them”, use the stressed form.

avec ils → avec eux
with them

Stressed pronouns are especially useful with social phrases and prepositions: avec toi, chez moi, pour elle. Fluera practices them in short dialogues, so you choose moi or toi from the sentence position, not from an English word list. Try it when you practice French.

Practice