voici
/vwa.si/
The French phrase for "here is" is voici.
voici is used to introduce or present someone or something to another person.
Which one should you use?
While voici is used to introduce something close to the speaker, voilà is used for something further away or to conclude a point.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebecois French, voici is commonly used just like in Standard French.
How does it change in a sentence?
voici is invariable and does not change whether the object being introduced is singular or plural. It can mean both "here is" and "here are" in English.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of voici is /vwa.si/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The phrase voici is actually an imperative command, meaning it literally tells the listener to 'look here' or 'see here'.
- In spoken French, voilà is so dominant that it often replaces voici entirely, even when the object is right in the speaker's hand.
- In some older literary styles, you might see voici used to start a sentence that describes a sudden, startling revelation to the reader.
Examples in context
- Voici ton sac !Here is your bag.Tatoeba #1991332 by sacredceltic, translation #17400 by CK
- Voici la carte !Here is the map.Tatoeba #1968223 by sacredceltic, translation #1761751 by Tereza
- Voici une autre phrase.Here is another sentence.Tatoeba #8571150 by Aiji, translation #8569894 by AlanF_US
- Voici le rapport que vous avez demandé.Here is the report you requested.
- Ci-joint le formulaire d'inscription.Attached is the registration form.
- Tiens, voilà ton livre.Here you go, here's your book.
- Voilà ton cadeau d'anniversaire.Here is your birthday gift.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas is introducing his sister to Manon.
- LucasManon, voici ma sœur.Manon, here is my sister.
- ManonEnchantée de faire ta connaissance !Nice to meet you!
- LucasElle habite à Paris.She lives in Paris.
- ManonC'est super !That's great!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry voici, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voici, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
