vouloir
/vu.lwaʁ/
To want in French is vouloir.
vouloir is used to say 'to want', but depending on the context, it can also express 'to wish' or 'to intend'. When making polite requests, such as ordering in a restaurant, the conditional form Je voudrais ('I would like') is used instead of the present tense Je veux to avoid sounding demanding.
Which one should you use?
While vouloir means 'to want', it can also be used to express 'to wish' or 'to intend' depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present indicative forms of vouloir are: je veux (I want), tu veux (you want, singular/informal), il/elle veut (he/she wants), nous voulons (we want), vous voulez (you want, plural/formal) and ils/elles veulent (they want).
How do you pronounce it?
/vu.lwaʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase vouloir dire literally means 'to want to say' but is used to mean 'to mean'. For example, Que veut dire ce mot? means 'What does this word mean?'
- The English word 'volunteer' comes from the same root as vouloir. It stems from the idea of doing something because one 'wants' or 'wills' it to happen.
- The French phrase vouloir, c'est pouvoir is a common proverb meaning 'to want is to be able to'. It is the equivalent of the English saying 'where there is a will, there is a way'.
Examples in context
- Vous allez vouloir voir ça.You're going to want to see this.Tatoeba #7414074 by lbdx, translation #2015298 by CK
- Qui dit vouloir, dit pouvoir.To want means to be able.Tatoeba #9436534 by Micsmithel, translation #2462452 by dimitris
- Tom semble vouloir aider Mary.Tom seems to want to help Mary.Tatoeba #6593899 by GB3, translation #2014366 by CK
- Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.I would like a coffee, please.
- Je voudrais vous demander une faveur.I would like to ask you a favor.
- Je désire vous rencontrer pour discuter de cette proposition.I desire to meet with you to discuss this proposal.
- Je veux un verre d'eau, s'il te plaît.I want a glass of water, please.
- J'ai très soif, je veux boire quelque chose de frais.I'm very thirsty, I want to drink something cold.
- J' ai envie de manger une pizza ce soir.I feel like eating pizza tonight.
- Il a envie de partir en vacances.He wants to go on vacation.
- Je voudrais commander une salade, s'il vous plaît.I would like to order a salad, please.
- Tu veux aller au cinéma ce soir ?Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?
- Nous avons envie de danser toute la nuit.We feel like dancing all night.
- Ils désirent acheter cette nouvelle voiture.They desire to buy this new car.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- ChloéQu'est-ce que tu veux manger, Hugo ?What do you want to eat, Hugo?
- HugoJe ne sais pas, je ne semble pas vouloir de pizza.I don't know, I don't seem to want pizza.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu vas vouloir essayer le restaurant indien ?Are you going to want to try the Indian restaurant?
- HugoOui, c'est une excellente idée !Yes, that's a great idea!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vouloir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
