L'expression du souhait avec «

Using vouloir is like building with LEGO blocks. You start with the person (the subject). Then you add the correctly shaped piece of vouloir. Finally, you add what you want. You have two main options for the "what." First, you can use a noun. For example, un café or un billet. Second, you can use another verb. This second verb stays in its original form (the infinitive). For example, manger or partir. That is it! No complex connectors or secret codes. It is a direct bridge between your brain and the world. Just remember that French verbs change their ending depending on who is talking. Yes, even native speakers had to learn this in school, so you are in good company.

1. 1Start with the subject pronoun. Are you talking about yourself (je), a friend (tu), or a group (nous)? Pick your player.
2. 2Conjugate vouloir in the present tense. Here is the cheat sheet:
3. 3je veux (I want)
4. 4tu veux (You want - informal)
5. 5il/elle/on veut (He/She/One wants)
6. 6nous voulons (We want)
7. 7vous voulez (You want - formal or plural)
8. 8ils/elles veulent (They want)
9. 9Notice the spelling pattern. The first three end in x, x, and t. This is rare in French! Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green means go, but watch those endings.
10. 10Handle the "we" and "you (plural)." They look more like the original word vouloir. Notice the voul- stem. It is like the verb is coming home for a visit.
11. 11The "they" form is the wild card. ils veulent. It sounds like "vull." Do not say the -ent at the end. It is silent, just there for decoration.

Use vouloir when you have a clear goal. It is perfect for ordering food at a busy bistro. Je veux une baguette, s'il vous plaît. Use it when asking a friend for a favor. Tu veux m'aider ? (Do you want to help me?). It is also great for expressing your dreams. Je veux voyager en France. If you are in a shop and the clerk asks what you are looking for, vouloir is your go-to. It is direct and efficient. Use it in job interviews to show motivation. Je veux ce poste. It shows you are assertive. Just keep in mind that being too direct can sometimes sound a bit like a bossy toddler, but we will fix that in the next section.

There is a time and a place for everything. In very formal settings, je veux can sound a bit harsh. If you are talking to a waiter at a five-star restaurant or meeting a dignitary, use je voudrais instead. That is the conditional form ("I would like"). It adds a layer of polite polish. Also, do not use vouloir for "liking" something. That is the job of aimer. If you say Je veux cette pizza, it means you intend to eat it right now. If you say J'aime cette pizza, it means you think it is delicious in general. Finally, avoid using it when you are just wondering about something. Vouloir is for active desire, not idle thoughts.

• The "s" trap. Many beginners try to write je veus with an s. French loves s, but vouloir demands an x. Think of it as being extra (x-tra) special.
• Pronouncing the "t". In il veut, the t is silent. If you pronounce it, you might sound a bit like a robot.
• Adding "de". In English, we say "I want to eat." In French, you do not need a word for "to." It is just Je veux manger. Adding de or à is a classic mistake. Skip the extra words and save your breath for more cheese.
• The "ils" pronunciation. Many say "veulent" like "vool-ont." Nope! It is more like "vull." The -ent is a ghost; it is there, but you can't hear it.
• Mixing up vous voulez and nous voulons. Remember that vous always goes with the -ez sound. It is a golden rule in French.

Vouloir (to want) vs. Aimer (to like). This is the biggest hurdle. Vouloir is an action. It implies you are going to get the thing. Aimer is a feeling. You can aimer a Ferrari without vouloir a Ferrari (mostly because of the price tag).

Another contrast is Vouloir vs. Pouvoir (to be able to). Je veux means you have the desire. Je peux means you have the ability. You might vouloir dance on the table, but you pouvez only do it if the table is strong enough.

Lastly, Vouloir vs. Devoir (to have to). Je veux is about choice. Je devoir is about obligation. Use vouloir for your heart's desires and devoir for your taxes.