Advertisement

French Expression of the Day: Tu m’en veux ?

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
French Expression of the Day: Tu m’en veux ?
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond"

If you think this French expression looks like an indecent proposal, you should probably read this.

Advertisement

Why do I need to know tu m’en veux?

Because not knowing what it means could lead to awkward misunderstandings..

What does it mean?

Tu m’en veux - roughly pronounced 'too mahn vuh' - is put together by tu (you), me (me) and veux (want). If you aren't familiar with the expression, it looks like it reads ‘you me want’, which could have you thinking that it means ‘do you want me?’

However there is nothing sensual about tu m'en veux. On the contrary, tu m'en veux ? means ‘do you blame me?’ or ‘are you mad?’

It comes from s'en voulouir, which means 'to blame oneself'. You can also use it in the form vouloir à quelqu'un, which means 'blaming someone'. You can also use this phrase to say that you are angry with yourself - in this case, it would be je m'en veux.

It's a golden sentence to know, especially if you're in a couple with someone who is French (trust us, it will come in handy), but you can of course also use it with friends.

Advertisement

If you add a ne pas there you get Tu me n’en veux pas ? - You’re not mad, right?

Note that the ne is usually dropped during conversation, so you'd hear or say it like tu m'en veux pas ?
 
The polite version of tu m'en veux ? is vous m'en voulez, which uses the formal tone.
 
Use it like this
 
Je sais que tu m'en veux. - I know that you're mad at me.
 
Ils s'en veulent tellement d'être en retard, mais ils disent que c'était impossible de sortir des bouchons. - They're so sorry for being late, but they're saying it was impossible to get out of the traffic jams.
 
Tu ne peux pas m'en voulour pour ça ! - You can't blame me for that!
 
Je te n'en veux pas, mais je suis pas d'accord. - I don't blame you, but I don't agree.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Phoebe Wagner 2023/05/12 20:44
I believe that you would put the ne before the me ou te. « Tu ne m’en veux pas? » and not « Tu me n’en veux pas. » i have never heard of ne coming after the me or te.
  • Anonymous 2023/05/16 09:35
    THank you!
Phoebe Wagner 2023/04/30 08:58
I believe the “ne” precedes the “te” or “me” here so it’s “tu ne m’en veux pas” and “je ne t’en veux pas”.
  • Anonymous 2023/05/16 09:35
    Merci
Gael Laymon 2023/04/30 05:58
You wrote je te n’en veux pas. Shouldn’t it be « Je ne t’en veux pas ? »
  • Anonymous 2023/05/16 09:35
    Merci
Gael Laymon 2023/04/30 05:58
You wrote je te n’en veux pas. Shouldn’t it be « Je ne t’en veux pas ? »
  • Anonymous 2023/05/16 09:35
    Merci
Jonathan Gregory 2023/04/28 17:42
Your examples in the negative are incorrect. It's 'tu ne m'en veux pas'. and 'je ne t'en veux pas'. Following the personal pronoun (je, tu, il, etc) ne ...pas always wraps what follows so it can't be 'je te n'en veux pas.
  • Anonymous 2023/05/16 09:35
    Merci

See Also