Definition
To want something or to wish to do something. One of the most essential verbs in everyday French.
Example
Je veux un café, s'il vous plaît.
Show translation
I want a coffee, please.
Etymology
From Old French *voloir*, from Latin *velle* ("to wish, to want"), itself from Proto-Indo-European *welH-* ("to wish, to choose"). The same Latin root gives English "volition" and "voluntary."
Cultural note
French has a crucial politeness distinction: *je veux* ("I want") is direct and can sound blunt or rude in a shop or restaurant. Prefer *je voudrais* (the conditional, "I would like") for polite requests. Using *je veux* with a stranger may raise an eyebrow — save it for friends or informal settings. This is one of the first social nuances French teachers drill into beginners.