💬🙂

How to Say ‘I just wanted to tell you.’ in French

Je voulais juste vous le dire.

zhuh voo-leh ZHoost voo luh deer

[zhuh voo-leh ZHoost voo luh deer]

🇫🇷 In France: This signals that you want nothing more, which is a polite way to wrap up a compliment to a stranger and avoid seeming pushy.

Phrase Breakdown

Je voulais juste

zhuh voo-leh ZHoost

I just wanted

'Voulais' is 'voo-LAY'. In speech, 'je' often shortens to 'zh': 'zhvoo-lay zhüst'.

Example

Je voulais juste un café.

I just wanted a coffee.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

voulais

[voo-leh]

wanted

Imperfect form of vouloir, often used to sound polite and less direct in emails.

Example

Je voulais vous remercier pour notre discussion.

I wanted to thank you for our discussion.

juste

[ZHoost]

Just

Indicates only or simply; emphasis on proximity.

Example

Il se tient juste à côté.

He stands just beside.

vous le dire.

voo luh deer

to tell you (it)

Say 'voo luh DEER'. The pronouns 'vous' and 'le' come before the verb 'dire'.

Example

Je vais vous le dire.

I'm going to tell you.

Words in this phrase

vous

[voo]

to you

Indirect object pronoun: the person receiving something.

Example

Je vous donne la monnaie.

I give you the change.

[luh]

Direct object pronoun meaning 'it'.

Example

Je le mets avec une petite seringue ?

Do I put it in with a small syringe?

dire

[deer]

to say

To express in words.

Example

Il va dire la vérité.

He is going to say the truth.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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