je vais manger
In French, "I am going to eat" is expressed as je vais manger.
This phrase is a statement used to express your intention to eat food in the near future.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of "I go to eat", which is the standard way to express the near future in French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the futur proche construction, which consists of the conjugated verb aller (to go) followed by the infinitive manger (to eat).
Did you know?
- The verb manger shares a surprising ancestor with the English word 'munch', as both traces back to the Late Latin 'manducare', which literally means 'to chew'.
- While je vais manger declares an intention, a French speaker will typically use the phrase à table to actually signal that the meal is ready and people should come to the table.
- In French, the concept of eating is so central to culture that there is a specific verb grignoter for the act of nibbling or eating small snacks between meals.
Examples in context
- Je vais manger !I am going to eat!This sentence is useful for expressing the intention to eat using je vais manger.Tatoeba #11621765 by Adrien_FR, translation #7681776 by ouitroisheures19
- Merci! Je vais prendre mon repas dans un instant. Et vous?Thank you! I am going to have my meal in a moment. And you?
- Ouais! Je vais me taper un repas bien copieux!Yeah! I am going to wolf down a hearty meal!
- Je vais manger une pomme.I am going to eat an apple.
- Si j'ai faim, je vais manger quelque chose.If I am hungry, I am going to eat something.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are in the kitchen.
- EmmaTu as faim, Gabriel ?Are you hungry, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, beaucoup !Yes, very much!
- EmmaMoi aussi, je vais manger maintenant.Me too, I am going to eat now.
- GabrielD'accord, on y va.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, manger, vais, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
