je te veux
The French phrase for "I want you" is je te veux.
This phrase is used to express a strong physical or romantic desire for another person. Unlike in English, where one might say "I want you to do something," in French, je te veux carries a heavy sexual or romantic connotation and is rarely used for non-romantic desires.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), te (you) and veux (want).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec French, J'te veux is an informal way of saying "I want you".
Did you know?
- If a French speaker says je vous veux using the formal vous, it often shifts the meaning from romantic desire to a professional recruitment or a demand for a specific person's services.
- Because je te veux is so intensely romantic, French speakers use je veux que tu… followed by a verb to express a mundane request like 'I want you to close the door'.
- The word veux comes from the Latin 'volo', which is a distant relative of the English word 'volition'.
Examples in context
- Je te veux !I want you.This example shows the basic exclamation of desire using je te veux.Tatoeba #4585919 by sacredceltic, translation #17707 by CK
- Je te veux en moi.I want you inside me.This example uses je te veux to express a specific physical desire.Tatoeba #10668441 by AutoBot, translation #10668439 by AutoBot
- Je te veux trop fort.I want you too badly.This example uses je te veux to emphasize the intensity of the desire.Tatoeba #473986 by sacredceltic, translation #468019 by Belcantante
- Je souhaite vous avoir à mes côtés ce soirI wish to have you by my side tonight
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic moment at home.
- HugoJe te veux, Emma.I want you, Emma.
- EmmaMoi aussi, Hugo.Me too, Hugo.
- HugoTu es si belle.You are so beautiful.
- EmmaViens plus près.Come closer.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
