What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), veux (want), un (a) and chien (dog).
Which one should you use?
While je veux un chien is the standard way to express this desire, you can use different variations depending on your specific meaning. For example, J'aimerais adopter un chien means "I would like to adopt a dog," and Je voudrais avoir un animal de compagnie canin means "I would like to have a canine companion."
How does it change in a sentence?
To make your request sound much more polite and less demanding, you can use the conditional je voudrais un chien (I would like a dog) instead of the indicative veux. Regarding the verb, je veux means "I want," while nous voulons means "We want" and ils/elles veulent means "They want." If you want to express wanting multiple dogs, the indefinite article un changes to the plural des and chien becomes chiens, resulting in je veux des chiens.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using the phrase, remember that un is specifically the masculine indefinite article used here because chien is a masculine noun. Do not assume un is used for all nouns regardless of gender.
Did you know?
- While chien is the general term, the French often use toutou as an affectionate, baby-talk version of the word, similar to calling a dog a 'doggy' in English.
- In the Occitan language spoken in parts of France, the word for dog is chin, which sounds like the English word 'chin'.
- The word chien is a direct relative of the Spanish word can and the Italian word cane, all stemming from the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- Je veux un chien.I want a dog.This example shows the basic statement of wanting a dog.Tatoeba #10522953 by felix63, translation #2748639 by CM
- « Que veux-tu ? » « Je veux un chien. »"What do you want?" "I want a dog."This example shows the phrase used in a short dialogue.Tatoeba #10683238 by MrHibou, translation #451481 by blay_paul
- Je veux un chien pour mon anniversaire.I want a dog for my birthday.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is telling Léa about his wish for a pet.
- HugoLéa, je veux un chien.Léa, I want a dog.
- LéaTu es sûr de vouloir un animal ?Are you sure you want a pet?
- HugoOui, j'en rêve depuis longtemps.Yes, I have been dreaming of it for a long time.
- LéaC'est une grande responsabilité pour toi.It is a big responsibility for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chien, je, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
