vouloir/vu.lwaʁ/
verb / noun · A1 · Frequency 55
verb
Meanings
to want, wish, desire
Expresses a subjective wish or desire.
to expect; to think; used in rhetorical questions
Common in rhetorical questions; often rendered as would/should.
to give the impression of; to seem
Indicates an appearance or impression.
Examples
Je vais vouloir comprendre les raisons de cette décision avant de répondre.
I will want to understand the reasons for this decision before answering.
Que peut vouloir dire ce changement pour les salariés concernés ?
What could this change mean for the employees concerned?
Cette réaction semble vouloir cacher une inquiétude plus profonde.
This reaction seems to want to hide a deeper concern.
Collocations
- vouloir bien faireto want to do well
Common mistakes
Je veut bien faire.
Je veux bien faire.
The first-person singular present tense uses the irregular form “je veux,” not “je veut”; “veut” is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymdésirerto desire, want
Grammar note
The verb vouloir is an essential pronominal verb and uses the auxiliary avoir in compound tenses.
nounmasculine
Meanings
will
Refers to an individual's willpower or determination, often used in philosophical or psychological contexts.
desire, wish
Expresses someone's desire or wish, commonly used in everyday language.
Examples
Le vouloir humain ne suffit pas toujours à surmonter les obstacles.
Human will is not always enough to overcome obstacles.
Son vouloir reste ferme malgré les difficultés.
His will remains firm despite the difficulties.
Le vouloir collectif a permis de mener le projet à terme.
Collective will made it possible to complete the project.
Collocations
- le vouloir humainhuman will
Related words
synonymvolontéwill, desire
antonymrefusrefusal
verb
Meanings
to want, wish, desire
Expresses a subjective wish or desire.
to expect; to think; used in rhetorical questions
Common in rhetorical questions; often rendered as would/should.
to give the impression of; to seem
Indicates an appearance or impression.
Examples
En voulant gagner du temps, elle a préparé ses affaires la veille.
Wanting to save time, she prepared her things the day before.
Voulant apprendre à cuisiner, Marc s'est inscrit à un atelier du soir.
Wanting to learn how to cook, Marc signed up for an evening workshop.
En voulant aider son collègue, Nadia a pris une partie de son travail.
Wanting to help her colleague, Nadia took on part of his work.
Grammar note
The verb vouloir is an essential pronominal verb and uses the auxiliary avoir in compound tenses.
verb
Meanings
to want, wish, desire
Expresses a subjective wish or desire.
to expect; to think; used in rhetorical questions
Common in rhetorical questions; often rendered as would/should.
to give the impression of; to seem
Indicates an appearance or impression.
Examples
J'ai voulu répondre, mais je n'ai pas trouvé les mots.
I wanted to answer, but I could not find the words.
Elle a voulu changer de métier après cette expérience.
She wanted to change careers after that experience.
Nous avons voulu vérifier les chiffres avant de signer.
We wanted to check the figures before signing.
Collocations
- vouloir bien faireto want to do well
Common mistakes
Je veut bien faire.
Je veux bien faire.
The first-person singular present tense uses the irregular form “je veux,” not “je veut”; “veut” is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymdésirerto desire, want
Grammar note
The verb vouloir is an essential pronominal verb and uses the auxiliary avoir in compound tenses.
verb
Meanings
to want, wish, desire
Expresses a subjective wish or desire.
to expect; to think; used in rhetorical questions
Common in rhetorical questions; often rendered as would/should.
to give the impression of; to seem
Indicates an appearance or impression.
Examples
Je veux apprendre cette langue pour travailler à l'étranger.
I want to learn this language so that I can work abroad.
Tu veux vraiment refuser cette proposition intéressante ?
Do you really want to refuse this interesting proposal?
Collocations
- vouloir bien faireto want to do well
Common mistakes
Je veut bien faire.
Je veux bien faire.
The first-person singular present tense uses the irregular form “je veux,” not “je veut”; “veut” is the third-person singular form.
Related words
synonymdésirerto desire, want
Grammar note
The verb vouloir is an essential pronominal verb and uses the auxiliary avoir in compound tenses.