je vais
The French phrase for "I am going to" is je vais.
je vais is used to express an intention to do something in the future. While it can mean "I am going" to indicate movement toward a place, when it is followed by a verb, it functions as the near future construction "I am going to".
What does it mean word for word?
je vais is the first-person singular present tense of the verb aller (to go), meaning "I go" or "I am going".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express an intention to perform an action, use je vais followed directly by the infinitive form of a verb.
Did you know?
- The verb aller is so irregular that je vais comes from a completely different Latin root than its future tense forms. While je vais descends from vadō, the future tense j'irai comes from ire.
- While je vais expresses the future, it is also the standard way to answer the question Comment ça va? In this context, je vais bien means 'I am doing well' rather than 'I am going well'.
- The word vais is derived from the Latin vadō, which specifically meant 'to walk' or 'to go'. This root also gave rise to the English word 'evade', which literally means to 'go out' of a situation.
Examples in context
- Je vais au lit.I am going to bed.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase je vais to indicate movement to a place.Tatoeba #889608 by U2FS, translation #436349 by lukaszpp
- Je vais manger !I am going to eat!Tatoeba #11621765 by Adrien_FR, translation #7681776 by ouitroisheures19
- Je vais le faire.I am going to do it.Tatoeba #1291347 by sacredceltic, translation #254788 by CK
- Je vais au marché.I am going to the market.
- Je vais visiter Paris.I am going to visit Paris.
- Je vais travailler demain.I am going to work tomorrow.
- Je m'en vais à une réunion importante.I am going to an important meeting.
- Je m'en vais en vacances.I am going on vacation.
- Je vais aller à la plage.I am going to the beach.
- Je vais aller retrouver des amis.I am going to meet up with friends.
- Je vais aller faire du shopping.I am going to go shopping.
- J'y vais tout de suite.I'm off right away.
- Je file au travail.I am off to work.
- Je file faire mes courses.I am off to do my shopping.
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are talking at home about their plans for the afternoon.
- LéaJe vais faire les courses.I am going to do the shopping.
- NathanTu peux m'aider plus tard ?Can you help me later?
- LéaOui, je vais t'aider.Yes, I am going to help you.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Léa.Thank you very much, Léa.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
