How do you say "I would like" in French?

"I would like" in French is "Je voudrais". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘I would like’ in French

Q: What does "Je voudrais" mean in English?

"Je voudrais" means "I would like" in English. Usage tip: [Je voudrais] is a polite softener: literally "I would like," but often just used where English says "I'd like" or even "Can I have." You can swap in another action after it, like [je voudrais réserver] or [je voudrais essayer].

Je voudrais

zhuh voo-DRAY

[zhuh voo-DRAY]

💬 Usage Tip: [Je voudrais] is a polite softener: literally "I would like," but often just used where English says "I'd like" or even "Can I have." You can swap in another action after it, like [je voudrais réserver] or [je voudrais essayer].

Phrase Breakdown

[zhuh]

The subject pronoun for talking about yourself.

Example

Je voudrais réserver pour mardi soir.

I would like to book for Tuesday evening.

voudrais

[voo-DRAY]

would like

A polite conditional form of vouloir, used to ask for something courteously.

Example

Je voudrais un cours de yoga débutant.

I would like a beginner yoga class.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

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