French word

souhait

Pronunciation

IPA/swɛ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwish

Example

On a fait un souhait en soufflant les bougies.

We made a wish as we blew out the candles.

Illustration for souhait (wish)

More examples

Il a fait un souhait en regardant les feux d'artifice.

He made a wish while watching the fireworks.

Core concept

A private desire held in mind for something hoped to happen later.

Common phrases

  • faire un souhait

    make a wish

  • exaucer un souhait

    grant a wish

  • formuler un souhait

    formulate a wish

Similar words

envie: A feeling of wanting to do or have something.
désir: A strong feeling of wanting something.
vœu: A formal and polite wish expressed in a ceremony or document.

Definition in French

Exprime un désir pour l'avenir, généralement personnel et non officiel.

Word origin

Souhait developed from the Old French form sohait and remains closely connected with the verb souhaiter.

Usage tips

  • After souhaiter que, standard French uses the subjunctive, as in Je souhaite qu'il vienne.

Other meanings

  • desirenoun
  • hopenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word