Si tu veux

Si tu veux - French expression
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Essential French Expression

Meaning if you will
Literally if you want
Register informal (with tu)*
Pronunciation [see tu veu]
IPA   [si ty vø]

Usage notes: Si tu veux literally means "if you want (to)."

Par exemple…

Tu peux conduire si tu veux.   You can drive if you want to.
Si tu veux, tu peux assister à la réunion.   If you want, you can attend the meeting.

Idiomatically, si tu veux is used as a filler with different possible meanings.

1) Acknowledgement that another person has some say in the proposed activity, a sort of softened imperative:

Aujourd’hui, si tu veux, on travaille à l’indépendant.   Today, let’s work independently / how about working independently.
Tu fais la lessive et moi, je fais la vaisselle, si tu veux.   You do the laundry and I’ll do the dishes, if that’s ok.

2) Non-committal suggestion of a possible interpretation:

Le problème, si tu veux, c’est le manque de respect entre les deux groupes.   The problem, if you will, is the lack of respect between the two groups.
C’est une expérience, si tu veux, pour nous aider à trouver une solution.   It’s sort of an experiment that will help us find a solution.

2½) Or response to one:

– C’est un livre extraordinaire !
– Si tu veux.
  – It’s an incredible book!
– If you say so.

3) Essentially meaningless filler:

Si tu veux, le mec m’appelle, et il me dit …   So the guy calls me, and says …
On est à la fête, si tu veux, et cette fille arrive …   We’re at the party, you know, and this girl arrives …

* Alternatives

  • Si vous voulez (formal and/or plural)
  • Si on veut
  • Si l’on veut

Variations

  • Si tu le veux
  • Si tu le veux bien
  • Si vous le voulez
  • Si vous le voulez bien
  • Si on le veut
  • Si on le veut bien

 Related lessons

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Si tu veux - French filler

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