je veux être
The English phrase "I want to be" is translated into French as je veux être.
The phrase is used to express a desire to become something or to be in a certain state. The verb être within this phrase means "to be".
Which one should you use?
Adding the pronoun en after the phrase, as in je veux en être, changes the meaning to "I want to be part of it", referring to a group, project or situation. Furthermore, if you are expressing a desire to undergo a transformation or a change in profession, French speakers often use je veux devenir (I want to become) instead of je veux être.
How does it change in a sentence?
To be more polite and common when expressing a wish, it is often better to use the conditional form je voudrais être (I would like to be) rather than the more direct je veux être.
Did you know?
- The word suis (I am), which is a part of the conjugation for être, actually comes from a completely different Latin root, 'sum', than the word for 'standing'.
- The root of être is shared with the Spanish verbs ser and estar. Both Spanish verbs describe 'being' but distinguish between permanent and temporary states.
- The form suis in je suis (I am) is a linguistic survivor from Vulgar Latin, making it distinct from the more formal Classical Latin versions of the verb.
Examples in context
- Je veux être toi.I want to be you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase je veux être.Tatoeba #796616 by felix63, translation #796615 by FeuDRenais2
- Je veux être ici.I want to be here.Tatoeba #5647018 by nimfeo, translation #1887884 by CK
- Je veux être seul.I want to be alone.Tatoeba #11084763 by Aiji, translation #2011405 by CK
- Je souhaite être médecin.I want to be a doctor.
- Je désire être ingénieur.I desire to be an engineer.
- 139 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about their future careers.
- LucasJe veux être photographe plus tard.I want to be a photographer later.
- EmmaC'est un beau métier, Lucas.That is a beautiful profession, Lucas.
- LucasEt toi, Emma, que veux-tu faire ?And you, Emma, what do you want to do?
- EmmaMoi, je veux être médecin.Me, I want to be a doctor.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, être, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
