voilà
/vwa.la/
The English phrase 'here you go' can be translated into French as voilà.
voilà is used when handing an object to someone. It can also be used to signal that a task is completed or that a result has been achieved, similar to saying 'that's it'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word voilà is a contraction of vois (see) and là (there), which literally means 'see there'.
How do you pronounce it?
/vwa.la/
Did you know?
- Voilà is often used by French speakers as a filler word to signal the end of a sentence or a thought, similar to how an English speaker might use 'and so' or 'basically'.
- French speakers may use voilà with a specific hand gesture, such as an open palm facing upward, to emphasize the presentation of the object or result.
- While voilà is a French word, it is used in English as a loanword to signal a sudden or magical appearance. However, English speakers often misspell it as 'vuala' because they cannot hear the 'oi' sound correctly.
Examples in context
- Voilà, monsieur.Here you go, sir.Tatoeba #11790334 by lbdx, translation #11790333 by CM
- Voici votre commande, Monsieur.Here is your order, sir.
- Tiens, ton café.Here you go, your coffee.
- Voilà ton café.Here is your coffee.
- Voilà les clés.Here are the keys.
Example conversation
Nathan hands Emma a glass of water.
- NathanVoilà ton verre d'eau.Here you go, here is your glass of water.
- EmmaMerci beaucoup, Nathan.Thank you very much, Nathan.
- NathanDe rien, Emma.You're welcome, Emma.
- EmmaC'est très gentil.That is very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry voilà, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
