Context

This line is spoken by Tarzan, played by Johnny Weissmuller, in the film Tarzan the Ape Man, directed by W.S. Van Dyke (1932).

This iconic line pops up when Jane and Tarzan meet for the first time. Well, we say "meet," but it's really more a kidnapping. When Tarzan steals Jane away from her father and his companion, Jane tries to communicate with him. Hey, it's her only chance of getting back home.

It doesn't start off well, since it's tough teaching English to a man who's never met another human before, but Tarzan is a quick study. Within a few minutes, he's got the basics down. This pretty lady in front of him is named Jane. And him? Well, he's Tarzan. Dreamy eyes and muscles for days. A feral jungle man never looked so good.

Where you've heard it

This is a pretty epic line and it's a staple you'll hear in lots of Tarzan adaptions, though it's more famously (mis)quoted as "Me, Tarzan. You, Jane." It all means the same thing, though. Boy and girl meet and fall in love amongst the jungle trees.

Additional Notable References:

• The original Tarzan books were written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and also contain a meet cute between Tarzan and Jane.
• Tarzan and Jane reenact this classic scene in the Disney version of the movie, too.
• In an interview in 1932, the star of Tarzan the Ape Man said that he "didn't have to act in [the movie, he] just said, 'Me, Tarzan. You, Jane." Sweet gig.
• This jungle-themed cabin getaway is known as the Me, Tarzan, You, Jane Room. Wild.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Jane may be a tiny bit pretentious (trying to teach a man she's just met to speak her language instead of trying to learn his), but Tarzan never could be. You, Reader. We, Shmoop.