French Conversation · Level 18
89 words
French word
vouloir
Pronunciation
IPA/vulwaʁ/
Meaning
- verbwant
Example
Je veux un café.
I want a coffee.
More examples
Tu veux m'aider?
Do you want to help me?
Core concept
An inner pull points toward a desired object or action, with its strength set by context.
Common phrases
vouloir quelque chose
want something
vouloir + infinitif
want to + infinitive
vouloir bien
be willing to
Similar words
préférer: To favor one choice over other available options.
demander: To request something from another person or ask for an action.
désirer: To long intensely for something with deep feeling or passion.
espérer: To expect and wish for a desired event to occur.
Definition in French
Indiquer un désir, qu'il s'agisse d'un souhait passager ou d'une volonté plus ferme selon le contexte.
Word origin
French vouloir developed from Latin velle, 'to wish' or 'to want', through the sound and form changes of Old French.
Usage tips
- 'Je voudrais' is the conditional form of vouloir and commonly makes a request less direct than 'Je veux'.