Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| se demander | |
| conjecturer | /kɔ̃.ʒɛk.ty.ʁe/ |
The primary way to express the act of wondering or questioning something in your mind is through the verb se demander. When you want to express the idea of speculating or making a hypothesis based on incomplete evidence, you use conjecturer. If you are referring to the noun form of wonder, such as a marvel or something that causes awe, use merveille.
What does it mean word for word?
The reflexive verb se demander literally translates to to ask oneself.
Which one should you use?
Se demander is the common way to express wondering or questioning, whereas conjecturer is a more formal term used for making a hypothesis or speculating based on incomplete evidence.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express 'to wonder if' within a statement, use the construction se demander si followed by either the indicative or the conditional mood.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using s'étonner to mean 'to wonder' in the sense of questioning something. s'étonner actually means 'to be surprised or astonished'.
Did you know?
- The verb conjecturer shares a hidden connection with the act of 'throwing' things, coming from the Latin word for 'to join' or 'to throw together'.
- The reflexive pronoun se in se demander is essential because, without it, the verb would mean you are asking a question to someone else rather than pondering internally.
- The noun for a 'wonder', merveille, shares a root with the English word 'marvel'. It is used in the phrase je m'émerveille, which describes the feeling of being filled with awe.
Examples in context
- Les boissons et la nourriture étaient servies avec une telle profusion au mariage que les jeunes mariés commencèrent à se demander s'ils n'auraient pas dû inviter plus de convives.Food and drink were served in such profusion at the wedding that the bride and groom began to wonder if they should not have invited more guests.This sentence shows how to use se demander when questioning a past decision.Tatoeba #3776 by ANH_DAO, translation #1962 by AlanF_US
- Je m'émerveille devant les magnifiques paysages.I wonder at the magnificent landscapes.
- Elle était ébahie par la beauté de l'œuvre d'art.She was amazed by the beauty of the artwork.
- Quand j'ai vu cet incroyable paysage, j'ai halluciné !When I saw this incredible landscape, I was amazed!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wonder” translations and entries conjecturer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conjecturer, demander, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
