je te veux tellement
The English phrase "I want you so bad" is translated into French as je te veux tellement.
This phrase is used to express a strong sexual or romantic desire for another person. In informal settings among friends and partners, you may also hear the phrase J'ai trop envie de toi. To add even more emphasis and strong emotion, one might say Putain, j'ai trop envie de toi using the mild expletive putain.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je te veux tellement is composed of je (I), te (you/thee), veux (want) and tellement (so much/so much so).
Which one should you use?
While tellement translates to 'so much', it is the standard way to express the intensity of 'so bad' in this context, as tellement mal would mean 'so badly' in a physical or negative sense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of te makes this phrase intimate and informal, suitable for a romantic or sexual partner.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person or using the formal vous to show respect, replace te with vous to say je vous veux tellement.
Did you know?
- The phrase j'ai envie de toi uses the same word envie that a French speaker would use to describe a craving for a chocolate bar.
- The formal version je vous veux tellement is technically grammatically correct, but it creates a jarring, almost paradoxical tension between intense sexual desire and the distance of formal politeness.
- While 'I want you' is a common romantic expression in English, using je te veux in French can sound more like a demanding order or an obsession.
Examples in context
- Thomas, j'ai trop envie de toi. On se voit ce soir ?Thomas, I want you so bad. Are we seeing each other tonight?
- Je te veux tellement.I want you so bad.
- Regarde-moi, je te veux tellement.Look at me, I want you so much.
Example conversation
A romantic evening in a dimly lit apartment.
- ChloéJe te veux tellement, Hugo.I want you so bad, Hugo.
- HugoMoi aussi, Chloé, je n'en peux plus.Me too, Chloé, I can't take it anymore.
- ChloéViens plus près de moi.Come closer to me.
- HugoJe suis tout à toi.I am all yours.
