je veux des bonbons
je veux des bonbons is the French way to say "I want candy".
This phrase is used to express a desire to eat sweet confectionery. You can also say je veux des sucreries to refer more generally to sweets or confectionery than bonbons.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), veux (want), des (some/plural indefinite article) and bonbons (candies).
Which one should you use?
While je veux des bonbons is a direct statement of desire, J'ai envie de bonbons means I feel like having candy in an informal context. For a broader category of sweets, use je veux des sucreries.
How does it change in a sentence?
Using the conditional je voudrais des bonbons (I would like some candy) instead of the indicative veux makes the request much more polite and less demanding.
Did you know?
- French culture has a specific word, gourmand, for someone who loves eating sweets, which is often seen as a charming quality rather than a lack of discipline.
- The phrase je veux is so direct that using it with a stranger or a shopkeeper in France can be perceived as rude or childish.
- The word bonbon is an example of reduplication, likely derived from the Latin bonus meaning 'good'.
Examples in context
- La fille aînée s'écria soudain : « Je veux des bonbons ! »The eldest daughter suddenly screamed "I want candy."This sentence shows a sudden exclamation using je veux des bonbons.Tatoeba #547904 by fs, translation #2661868 by WestofEden
- Soudainement, la fille aînée s'exclama : « Je veux des bonbons. »Suddenly the eldest daughter spoke up, saying, "I want candy."This sentence shows the phrase being spoken up or exclaimed using je veux des bonbons.Tatoeba #424586 by Scott, translation #424585 by blay_paul
- Chloé dit : « Je veux des bonbons. »Chloé says: "I want candy."
Example conversation
A child asks her brother for a treat in the living room.
- ChloéHugo, je veux des bonbons !Hugo, I want candy!
- HugoNon, Chloé, tu as déjà mangé trop de sucre.No, Chloé, you have already eaten too much sugar.
- ChloéS'il te plaît, juste un seul !Please, just one!
- HugoOn verra ça après le dîner.We will see about that after dinner.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
