French Expressions Using Vouloir

The French verb vouloir literally means to want and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to hold a grudge, only half want something, wish someone well, and more with this list of expressions with vouloir. Possible Meanings of Vouloir to wantto claim, assertto expectto need, require Vouloir has a different meaning in certain verb tenses and moods. Expressions with Vouloir vouloir à   manger/boireto want something to eat/drinkvouloir absolumentto be dead set on, determined tovouloir biento really want toVouloir, cest pouvoir (proverb)Where theres a will theres a wayvouloir de food/drinkto want somevouloir direto meanvouloir du bien à   quelquunto wish someone wellvouloir du mal à   quelquunto wish someone ill/harmvouloir faire quelque choseto want to do somethingvouloir que quelquun fasse quelque choseto want someone to do somethingvouloir que quelque chose se fasseto want something to be donevouloir quelque chose de quelquunto want something from someonevouloir sans vouloirto only half wanten vouloir (informal)to want/be raring to goen vouloir à   (informal)to be mad at (someone), be after (something)ne pas vouloir blesser quelquunto not mean to hurt someonene pas vouloir quon se croie obligà ©to not want someone to feel obligedne pas vouloir de quelquun/quelque choseto not want someone/somethingne plus vouloir de quelquun/quelque choseto no lon ger want someone/somethingsans le vouloirunintentionally, inadvertentlysans vouloir te/vous vexerno offensesen vouloir de infinitiveto be annoyed with oneself forÇa va comme tu veux? (informal)Is everything all right/OK?comme le veut la loiaccording to the law, as the law requirescomme le veut la traditionaccording to traditionComme tu veux / vous voulezAs you like/wish/please, Have it your way, Suit yourselfComment voulez-vous que je sache  ?How should I know?, How do you expect me to know?Comment veux-tu / voulez-vous que subjunctive  ?How do you expect (s.o. to do s.t.)?faire de quelquun ce quon veutto do what one likes with someone, to twist someone around his/her little fingerLe feu na pas voulu prendrethe fire wouldnt light ou catchle hasard voulut queas luck would have it... en veux-tu en voilà   (informal)tons of...Il y a des problà ¨mes en veux-tu en voilà   (informal)There are tons of problemsIls en voulaient à   sa vieThey wanted him deadJaurais voulu que v ous voyiez sa tà ªte  !I wish you could have seen his face!Jaurais voulu ty voir  !Id like to see what youd have done!Je men voudrais  !Not on your life!Je ne ten veux pasIm not mad at you, No hard feelingsJe ne voudrais pas abuserI dont want to imposeJe veux  ! (familiar)You bet! Id love to!Je veux bienYes, pleaseJe veux bien le croire mais ...Id like to believe him but ...Je voudrais que vous voyiez sa tà ªte  !I wish you could see his face!Je voulais te/vous dire...I wanted, meant to tell you...Je voudrais bien voir à §a  !Id like to see that!Je voudrais ty voir  !Id like to see you try!Le malheur a voulu quil subjunctiveHe had the misfortune to...Moi je veux bien, mais...Fair enough, but ...Ne men veuillez pasDont hold it against meNe men veux pas (informal)Dont hold it against meQuand on veut, on peut (proverb)Where theres a will theres a wayQuest-ce que tu veux / vous voulez  ?What can you do?, What do you expect?Que veux-tu / voulez-vous  ?What can you d o?, What do you expect?Que voulez-vous quon y fasse  ?What do you expect us/them to do about it?Quest-ce que tu veux que je te dise  ?What can I say? what do you want me to say?Que lui voulez-vous  ?What do you want with him?Quest-ce quil me veut, celui-là  Ã‚  ? (informal)What does he want from me?br/>quil le veuille ou nonwhether he likes it or notsavoir ce quon veutto know what one wantsSi tu veuxIf you like/want, If you willSi tu voulais bien le faireIf youd be kind enough to do itSi vous le voulez bienIf you dont mindSi vous voulez bien me suivreThis way, pleaseTu las voulu  !You asked for it!Tu lauras voulu  !Itll be your own fault! Youll have brought it on yourself!Tu ne men veux pas  ?No hard feelings?Tu veux bien leur dire que...Would you please tell them that ...Lusage veut que...Custom requires that...Veuillez agrà ©er/croire... (business letter)Please accept...Veuillez croire à   toute ma sympathiePlease accept my deepest sympathyVeux-tu (bien) infinitive   !Will you (please) ...!Veux-tu que je te dise/raconte pourquoi...  ?Shall I tell you why ...?Voudriez-vous avoir lobligeance/lamabilità © de...Would you be so kind as to ...Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir  ?Do you want to sleep with me tonight?se vouloirto claim to be, to be supposed to beVouloir conjugations