The verb vouloir means “to want.” It is irregular and used to express desires, intentions, or polite requests.
- Pronounced /vu.lwaʁ/
- Stem changes in several tenses (je veux, nous voulons)
- Subjunctive and conditional common for politeness
Usage
Vouloir is usually followed by an infinitive or a noun and can be used in various contexts:
- Expressing desire or intention
- Making polite requests or offers
- Stating needs or preferences
Examples
Here are some example sentences showing how vouloir is used in context:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je veux un café. | I want a coffee. |
| Tu veux sortir ce soir ? | Do you want to go out tonight? |
| Il veut apprendre le français. | He wants to learn French. |
| Nous voulons partir tôt. | We want to leave early. |
| Vous voulez du gâteau ? | Do you want some cake? |
| Ils veulent visiter Paris. | They want to visit Paris. |
Polite Usage
Vouloir is often used to make polite requests, especially in the conditional tense:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît. | I would like a glass of water, please. |
| Voudriez-vous m’aider ? | Would you like to help me? |
| Je voudrais réserver une table. | I would like to reserve a table. |
| Voudriez-vous répéter ? | Would you like to repeat? |
Using je voudrais is more polite and softer than je veux in social situations.
Common Expressions
- Vouloir dire — to mean
- Que veut-il dire ?* (What does he mean?)
- Volontiers — gladly, willingly (from vouloir)
- Veux-tu un café ? — Volontiers.* (Do you want a coffee? — Gladly.)
- Vouloir bien — to be willing to
- Veux-tu bien m’aider ?* (Would you be willing to help me?)
Summary
- Vouloir means “to want” and is irregular.
- Use it to express desires, intentions, or polite requests.
- Use je voudrais for polite offers or requests.
- Watch for stem changes in conjugations (veut, voulons, voudr-).
You’re now ready to use vouloir confidently in French!
Flashcards (1 of 10)
- English: I want a coffee.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
