je voudrais avoir
The English phrase "I would like to have" is translated into French as je voudrais avoir.
je voudrais avoir is a polite way to express a desire to possess or obtain something. It can be used both for expressing a desire to possess an object and for expressing a desire to experience a state or situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), voudrais (would want) and avoir (to have).
Which one should you use?
While je voudrais avoir is a polite way to express a desire, the phrase je veux avoir means "I want to have" and is a direct, much more forceful way of speaking that can sound rude in many social contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb voudrais is the conditional mood of vouloir, which is used here to soften the request and make it polite.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use the verb avoir to express physical sensations that English describes as states of being, such as saying j'ai faim for 'I am hungry'.
- The verb avoir shares a common ancestor with the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰh₁bʰ-, which meant 'to grab' or 'to take'.
- In very formal French settings, simply using the conditional voudrais is sometimes seen as insufficient, and speakers may add je souhaiterais to sound even more deferential.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais avoir une tasse de café.I would like to have a cup of coffee.This sentence is useful for illustrating how to use je voudrais avoir to request a drink.Tatoeba #338343 by Sprachprofi, translation #454413 by saasmath
- Je souhaiterais obtenir une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.I would like to have a bottle of water, please.
- J'aimerais avoir la soupe du jour, s'il vous plaît.I would like to have the soup of the day, please.
- Je souhaiterais obtenir un billet de train pour Bordeaux, s'il vous plaît.I would like to have a train ticket to Bordeaux, please.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are discussing their dream houses.
- EmmaJe voudrais avoir un grand jardin.I would like to have a big garden.
- NathanC'est une excellente idée, Emma.That is a great idea, Emma.
- EmmaEt toi, Nathan ?And you, Nathan?
- NathanJe voudrais avoir une cuisine moderne.I would like to have a modern kitchen.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avoir, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
