Wanting a French verb
The French verb vouloir usually means "to want" and has irregular conjugations in just about every tense and mood.
Vouloir = to want
| Je veux être médecin. |
|
I want to be a doctor. |
| Il veut plus d’argent. |
|
He wants more money. |
Vouloir = request
You can use vouloir to soften a request in three different ways:
| Voulez-vous vous patienter, s’il vous plaît ? |
|
Will you wait, please? |
| Est-ce que tu veux passer le riz ? |
|
Will you pass the rice? |
| Je voudrais un sandwich. |
|
I’d like a sandwich. |
| Nous voudrions deux cafés, s’il vous plaît. |
|
We’d like two coffees, please. |
In contrast, j’aimerais is more theoretical, expressing something you would like but aren’t necessarily trying to obtain.
Be extra polite with the imperative
| Veuillez patienter un instant. |
|
Please be so kind as to wait a moment. |
| Veuillez vous asseoir. |
|
Please do sit down. |
Vouloir bien
Statement = to be willing / happy to
| Je veux bien t’accompagner. |
|
I’m willing to go with you. |
| Nous voulons bien vous prêter de l’argent. |
|
We’d be happy to lend you some money. |
Request = to be so kind as to
| Répondez au téléphone, si vous voulez bien. |
|
Answer the phone, if you’d be so kind. |
| Si vous voulez bien me suivre. |
|
Follow me, please. |
Vouloir dire = to mean
| – Que veut-dire « bon appétit » ? |
|
– What does "bon appétit" mean? |
| – Ça veut dire que j’espère que ton repas te plaira. |
|
– It means that I hope you’ll enjoy your meal. |
En vouloir à quelqu’un = to hold a grudge against, be upset with
| J’espère que tu ne m’en veux pas. |
|
I hope you’re not upset with me. |
| Pourquoi est-ce qu’elle vous en veut ? |
|
Why is she holding a grudge against you? |
Vouloir + another verb
Vouloir plus the infinitive (no preposition in between).
| Je veux partir. |
|
I want to leave. |
| Nous voulons y aller. |
|
We want to go there. |
Vouloir que must be followed by the subjunctive.
| Je veux que tu partes. |
|
I want you to leave. |
| Nous voulons qu’ils y aillent. |
|
We want them to go there. |
Vouloir in the passé composé
In the imperfect, vouloir keeps its normal meanings of "to want" or "to hope," but it has different meanings in the passé composé.
Affirmative: to decide / try to
| J’ai voulu finir le projet. |
|
I decided to finish the project. |
| Avez-vous voulu partir tôt ? |
|
Did you try to leave early? |
| Je n’ai pas voulu finir le projet. |
|
I refused to finish the project. |
| Il n’a pas voulu lire. |
|
He refused to read. |
Vouloir in action
Related lessons
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