by S Morris

Created on: August 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 21, 2009

Vouloir is the French word for "to want." When in conditional tense, it can also be used in conjunction with a noun or another verb to ask for something politely, meaning "would like" (i.e. je voudrais un sandwich, which means "I would like a sandwich"). Because of its common usage, it is an important verb to learn. It is irregular which means it is trickier to learn than some verbs., but even irregular verbs have patterns that, if recognised, can help with learning the conjugations.

Generally, vouloir conjugates very similarly to pouvoir (to be able to), which is helpful to know if you intend on learning it later or have already learned it.

The present tense singular is very irregular. The plural forms conjugate like they should if the verb were "vouler" instead of vouloir, with the exception of the plural third person (ils/elles) which changes somewhat like the singular forms do (as the ils/elles form often does).
Je veux, tu veux, il/elle veut.
Nous voulons, vous voulez, ils/elles veulent.

The future tense have an irregular stem (voudr-), but uses regular endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont). So it is irregular, but not entirely.
Je voudrai, tu voudras, il/elle voudra.
Nous voudrons, vous voudrez, ils/elles voudront.

The conditional tense, like the future tense, conjugates regularly with an irregular stem (voudr-). It uses the same stem as future tense, which is true for most, even irregular, verbs.
Je voudrais, tu voudrais, il/elle voudrait.
Nous voudrions, vous voudriez, ils/elle voudraient.

The imperfect tense conjugates similarly to how the present tense plural forms do. They would be regular if the verb you were conjugating were "vouler" instead of vouloir.
Je voulais, tu voulais, il/elle voulait.
Nous voulions, vous vouliez, ils/elle voulaient.

The simple past tense conjugates fairly irregularly, but can be remembered by thinking to conjugate it regulary but drop the final "o" and replace the "i"s with "u"s (accents intact).
Je voulus, tu voulus, il/elle vouluit.
Nous voulmes, vous voultes, ils/elles voulurent.

The present subjunctive tense is irregular. But, like simple past tense, there are ways to help remember the conjugations. The first syllable should be spelled as its equivalent present tense form ("ou" versus "eu"), then you should drop the "o" in "oir," and then you conjugate it regularly, with "ss"s replaced with "ll"s.
Je veuille, tu veuilles, il/elle veuille.
Nous voulions, vous vouliez, ils/elles veuillent.

The imperfect subjunctive

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