Which one should you use?
While je veux is the direct way to say "I want", other forms change the tone and meaning. Je voudrais translates to "I would like", and J'aimerais means "I would love/like". For a more informal feeling of craving or inclination, you can use J'ai envie de, which means "I feel like" or "I have the desire for".
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to use je veux followed by a clause because you want someone else to do something, you must use je veux que followed by the subjunctive mood. Additionally, if you are ordering food or making requests in a shop, using the conditional form je voudrais is much more polite and common than using je veux.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using je veux when ordering food or interacting with staff in shops, as it can come across as rude. Instead, use the more polite je voudrais.
Did you know?
- The word vouloir can be used in the phrase vouloir dire, which means 'to mean'. Literally, it translates to 'to want to say'.
- While je veux is the direct translation, using it as a child in France can be seen as capricieux, or throw-a-tantrum behavior, which is why parents strictly enforce the use of je voudrais.
- French has a specific distinction between je veux (a demand) and je souhaite (a hope), where the latter is used for things outside of the speaker's control, like the weather.
Examples in context
- Moi je veux ça.I want that.Tatoeba #4678741 by sacredceltic, translation #2011270 by CK
- Je veux un ami.I want a friend.Tatoeba #8703781 by Julien_PDC, translation #561834 by CK
- Je veux te voir.I want to see you.Tatoeba #6614 by sysko, translation #257078 by CK
- Je désire un caféI want a coffee
- Je voudrais commander une pizzaI would like to order a pizza
- Je veux un morceau de gâteauI want a piece of cake
- J'ai envie de manger une glaceI feel like eating ice cream
- Je veux un livreI want a book
- Je veux une pommeI want an apple
- Je veux des livresI want some books
- Je voudrais, s'il vous plaîtI would like, please
- J'aimerais bienI would really like
- 3472 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- ChloéJe veux manger des pâtes ce soir.I want to eat pasta tonight.
- GabrielC'est une bonne idée, Gabriel est d'accord.That's a good idea, Gabriel agrees.
- ChloéEt je veux aussi une salade.And I also want a salad.
- GabrielParfait, on prépare tout ça.Perfect, we'll prepare all that.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
