Published December 22, 2023 • Updated April 9, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to say “I want” in French using three common expressions: je veux, je voudrais, and j’aimerais. Each form has a slightly different tone—from direct to polite—and is used in different real-life situations. With clear examples and native audio, you’ll learn when and how to use each one naturally.
✅ Je veux
Je veux partir tout de suite !
I want to leave immediately!
Je veux acheter cette poupée pour ma petite-fille.
I want to buy this doll for my granddaughter
✅ Je voudrais
In the conditional tense, je veux (I want) becomes je voudrais (I would like). Using this from is considered to be more polite.
Je voudrais
I would like
Je voudrais commander, s’il vous plaît.
I’d like to order, please.
Je voudrais un café au lait, s’il vous plaît.
I’d like a café au lait, please
👉 Vouloir conjugation chart (to want) »
✅ J’aimerais
There’s another way to express “I want” in French: J’aimerais. This is the conditional tense of aimer (to like, to love). J’aimerais and je voudrais are considered to be synonymous.
J’aimerais te parler, s’il te plaît.
I’d like to talk (or speak) to you, please.
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