How to Say "I Mean" in French

je veux dire

The English phrase "I mean" is translated into French as je veux dire.

je veux dire is used as a filler or a corrective particle when you realize you have said something incorrect or imprecise.

Meaning: used to correct an error (particle)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase je veux dire literally translates to "I want to say".

While je veux dire is a direct translation, French speakers often use the single word enfin as a filler to correct themselves or soften a statement.
Using je veux dire too frequently in a formal French speech is often viewed as a sign of hesitation or lack of confidence, more so than the English 'i mean'.
The verb in je veux dire comes from the Latin 'dīcō', which originally meant 'to show' or 'to point out' rather than just 'to speak'.

Je veux dire Jésus, Tom !
I mean Jesus, Tom!
This sentence shows how to use je veux dire to correct a name.
Tatoeba #8734259 by Julien_PDC, translation #2476512 by arnxy20
Tu vois ce que je veux dire ?
You see what I mean?
This sentence shows how to ask if someone understands the meaning of what you said using je veux dire.
Tatoeba #1261509 by sacredceltic, translation #250819 by CM
Vois-tu ce que je veux dire ?
Do you see what I mean?
This sentence is a more formal way to ask if someone understands the meaning of what you said using je veux dire.
Tatoeba #1404886 by sacredceltic, translation #250803 by CK
La politique, je veux dire, est un sujet délicat à aborder lors des réunions d'affaires.
Politics, I mean, is a delicate subject to discuss during business meetings.
J'ai passé une journée épuisante, enfin, tu vois, entre le travail et les réunions sans fin.
I had an exhausting day, I mean, you know, between work and endless meetings.
C'était super sympa, genre, on a vraiment passé une bonne soirée.
It was really fun, like, we had a great evening.
39 more sentences on Tatoeba

Emma and Lucas are discussing which movie to watch.

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