What do you mean? It's a simple question, but in French, the answer can be surprisingly complex. The verb 'to mean' doesn't have just one direct translation. Depending on the context, nuance, and what you're trying to express, you'll need to choose from a variety of words and phrases. Whether you're trying to define a word, ask for clarification, or express an intention, French has a specific way to say it. Let's dive into the 9 most common ways to say 'to mean' in French and clarify what they all signify!

1. The Standard 'to Mean': vouloir dire

The most common and direct way to express “to mean” in French is with the phrase vouloir dire. Literally, this translates to “to want to say,” which is a helpful way to remember its function of clarifying or defining what is being said.

When using this phrase, you only conjugate the verb vouloir (to want) according to the subject and tense. The verb dire (to say) always remains in its infinitive form. For example, you would say je veux dire (I mean) or il voulait dire (he meant).

This phrase is essential for learners asking for clarification. You can ask what a word, phrase, or even a concept means. The most common structures are Que veut dire [X] ? or the slightly more formal Qu'est-ce que [X] veut dire ?.

You also use vouloir dire to clarify your own thoughts or correct a misunderstanding, much like saying “I mean...” or “What I mean is...” in English. It's perfect for rephrasing something to be more precise.

Beyond simple definitions, vouloir dire is also used to question the implication or underlying message of something. Asking someone, Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? (“What do you mean by that?”) signals that you are looking for a deeper explanation or motive.

💡 * Que veut dire ce mot en anglais ? (What does this word mean in English?)

• Je ne comprends pas ce que tu veux dire. (I don't understand what you mean.)
• Ce silence veut dire qu'il n'est pas d'accord. (This silence means he doesn't agree.)
• Pardon, ce n'est pas ce que je voulais dire. (Sorry, that's not what I meant.)
• Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire, « être à l'ouest » ? (What does “être à l'ouest” mean?)

The 'to signify' or 'to mean' for signs and words – signifier

When discussing what words, signs, or symbols represent, the French verb signifier is the perfect choice, directly translating to 'to mean' or 'to signify'.

The primary function of signifier is to explain the definition or implication of something. It is generally more formal than the conversational vouloir dire and is often used in writing, formal explanations, or when analyzing meaning.

You'll frequently use signifier when defining a word or concept. For instance, a student might ask their teacher, Que signifie ce mot ? which means, 'What does this word mean?'.

Beyond words, signifier is essential for interpreting non-verbal cues, symbols, or actions. A red light signifies you must stop; a particular gesture can signify agreement or disagreement.

A very common and useful structure is Cela signifie que..., meaning 'This/That means that...'. It's a key phrase for drawing conclusions, explaining consequences, or elaborating on a point.

While signifier asks about the objective meaning of something, vouloir dire (literally 'to want to say') is used to ask what a person means. For 'What do you mean?', you would say Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire ?, not Que signifies-tu ?.

💡 * Que signifie ce panneau de signalisation ?

• Son silence ne signifie rien de bon.
• Une chute des températures signifie que l'hiver approche.
• En français, le mot 'ami' peut signifier différentes choses selon le contexte.

The 'to have in mind' or 'to intend' – entendre par

While the verb entendre commonly means 'to hear,' when combined with the preposition par, its meaning shifts completely. The expression entendre par translates to 'to mean by,' 'to understand by,' or 'to intend by.' It's a crucial phrase for seeking clarification.

The most frequent use of entendre par is in questions to ask someone what they specifically mean by a particular word or statement. It's a way to probe for a deeper or more precise definition beyond the literal.

The structure is straightforward: the conjugated form of entendre is followed by par and then the word or phrase in question. The most common construction is Qu'est-ce que tu entends par...? (What do you mean by...?).

While vouloir dire also means 'to mean,' entendre par is often more specific. It questions the speaker's personal intention or the particular sense in which they are using a term, whereas vouloir dire can be a more general request for meaning.

Using entendre par implies that a word or concept could have multiple interpretations, and you want to understand the speaker's specific viewpoint. It's common in discussions, debates, and professional settings where precision is key.

💡 * Qu'entendez-vous exactement par « une solution durable » ?

• Je ne vois pas ce que tu entends par là, peux-tu expliquer ?
• Par « liberté », chacun entend quelque chose de différent.
• Il faut définir ce que l'on entend par « succès » avant de commencer le projet.

The 'to matter' or 'to represent' – représenter

The verb représenter translates directly to 'to represent' but also carries the important nuance of 'to matter' or 'to mean something'.

In its most literal sense, représenter means 'to represent' or 'to depict.' You can use it when someone is acting on behalf of a group, or when a symbol stands for an idea. For example, a lawyer représente their client.

More figuratively, représenter is used to convey that something has value, significance, or importance to someone. It's often followed by pour + a person (e.g., pour moi, pour elle). This is where it takes on the meaning of 'to matter' or 'to be significant'.

The context will tell you which meaning is intended. If the subject is an agent acting for another (a diplomat, an actor), it likely means 'to represent.' If the subject is an object or concept being discussed in terms of its value to a person, it likely means 'to matter'.

💡 * Il représente son pays aux Jeux Olympiques. (He represents his country at the Olympic Games.)

• Ce tableau représente une scène de la vie quotidienne. (This painting depicts a scene from daily life.)
• Ton amitié représente beaucoup pour moi. (Your friendship means a lot to me.)
• Cela ne représente rien pour lui. (That doesn't mean anything/matter to him.)

The 'to imply' or 'to suggest' – sous-entendre

The French verb sous-entendre is the direct equivalent of 'to imply' or 'to suggest'. It refers to communicating something indirectly, without stating it explicitly.

To understand it better, let's break it down. It's formed from sous ('under') and entendre ('to hear' or 'to understand'). So, it literally means to 'understand under'—capturing the idea of a hidden meaning beneath the surface of the words.

You use sous-entendre when talking about subtext, innuendo, or reading between the lines. It's the perfect verb for situations where the real message is hinted at rather than said outright.

For conjugation, sous-entendre follows the exact same pattern as the common verb entendre. If you can conjugate entendre, you can conjugate sous-entendre.

The related noun is un sous-entendu, which means 'an implication,' 'an innuendo,' or 'a hidden meaning.' You'll often hear French speakers talk about a conversation being full of sous-entendus.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que tu essaies de sous-entendre ? (What are you trying to imply?)

• Il a sous-entendu que nous devrions partir. (He implied that we should leave.)
• Son message était plein de sous-entendus que je n'ai pas compris. (His message was full of implications that I didn't understand.)
• Elle sous-entend toujours qu'elle en sait plus que tout le monde. (She always implies that she knows more than everyone.)

The 'to get at' or 'to be driving at' – vouloir en venir

The French expression for asking what someone is 'getting at' or 'driving at' is vouloir en venir. It's a key phrase for understanding the underlying point of a conversation.

Literally, vouloir en venir translates to 'to want to come to it.' While the literal components are vouloir (to want), en (of it/from there), and venir (to come), the phrase is used figuratively to talk about arriving at the main point or conclusion of an argument or story.

This expression is most frequently used in questions to prompt a speaker to be more direct. If someone is rambling or being vague, you can ask, Où veux-tu en venir ? which means 'What are you getting at?' or 'What's your point?'

The tone of vouloir en venir can range from genuine curiosity to impatience. A simple Je ne vois pas où tu veux en venir ('I don't see what you're getting at') is a neutral request for clarification. However, saying Bon, où est-ce que tu veux en venir ? ('Okay, so where are you going with this?') can express frustration and a desire for the speaker to get to the point.

You can also use it in a declarative sentence to show you've understood someone's hidden meaning, for example: Ah, je vois où tu veux en venir ! ('Ah, I see what you're getting at!'). It signals that you have grasped the final destination of their argument.

💡 * Je ne comprends pas ton histoire. Où veux-tu en venir ?

• Arrête de tourner autour du pot et dis-moi où tu veux en venir.
• Ah, je vois où vous voulez en venir. Vous suggérez que nous annulions le projet.
• Il a parlé pendant une heure, mais personne ne savait où il voulait en venir.

The 'to intend to do something' – avoir l’intention de

To express the idea of 'intending to do something' in French, the most direct and common phrase is avoir l’intention de. It literally translates to 'to have the intention of'.

This expression follows a simple and consistent structure: the conjugated form of the verb avoir + l’intention de + an infinitive verb (the unconjugated form of the verb). For example, J'ai l'intention de manger (I intend to eat).

Avoir l’intention de is a standard and slightly formal way to state your plans. It's more formal than alternatives like compter faire quelque chose (to count on doing something) and clearly emphasizes that a specific intention or plan exists, even if the action hasn't been taken yet.

💡 * J'ai l'intention de visiter Paris l'été prochain. (I intend to visit Paris next summer.)

• Elle a l'intention de changer de travail. (She intends to change jobs.)
• Aviez-vous l'intention de rester si tard ? (Did you intend to stay so late?)
• Nous avons l'intention de finir ce projet avant la fin du mois. (We intend to finish this project before the end of the month.)

The 'to be supposed to' or 'meant to be' – être censé

To express the idea of 'to be supposed to' or 'meant to be' in French, the key phrase is être censé. It's used to talk about what is expected, planned, or generally assumed to happen, often with an underlying implication that it might not.

The structure is simple: conjugate the verb être in the appropriate tense, follow it with censé, and then add an infinitive verb. Crucially, censé acts as an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject: il est censé, elle est censée, nous sommes censés, elles sont censées.

Like its English equivalent, être censé often highlights a discrepancy between expectation and reality. When you say someone est censé faire quelque chose (is supposed to do something), it frequently suggests they aren't doing it or haven't done it yet. It carries a sense of duty or arrangement rather than a direct command.

It's important not to confuse être censé with devoir (must/to have to). Devoir implies a strong, direct obligation or necessity (Je dois partir – I must leave). In contrast, être censé refers to a pre-arranged plan or an external expectation (Je suis censé partir – I am supposed to leave).

💡 * Tu es censé ranger ta chambre avant de sortir.

• Le train était censé arriver à 10h, mais il a eu du retard.
• Elle n'est pas censée être au courant de la surprise.
• Nous sommes censés nous retrouver devant le cinéma.

1. The 'to be about' or 'to concern' – s’agir de

The phrase s'agir de is a fundamental impersonal expression in French, often translating to 'to be about,' 'to be a matter of,' or 'it concerns.' Because it's impersonal, it is exclusively used with the pronoun il in the third-person singular. It's a versatile phrase for defining or explaining the subject of a conversation, text, or situation.

The construction is fixed: il s'agit de + [noun/pronoun] or il s'agit de + [infinitive verb]. It never changes its subject pronoun. Whether you're talking about a book, a problem, or a person, the phrase always begins with il s'agit de. For questions, the structure becomes De quoi s'agit-il ? (What is it about?).

Use s'agir de to identify the core subject or theme of something. It's a more formal and common way to say 'it's about' when describing a book, film, or issue. For example, Dans ce roman, il s'agit d'un détective qui résout un meurtre. (In this novel, it's about a detective who solves a murder).

The phrase can also mean 'it is a matter of' or 'it is necessary to,' especially when followed by an infinitive verb. This usage emphasizes the essential action required to achieve a goal. For example, Pour apprendre le français, il s'agit de pratiquer tous les jours. (To learn French, it's a matter of practicing every day).

A common error for learners is to try to conjugate s'agir de with a different subject, like ~~Le livre s'agit de...~~. This is incorrect. The subject of the sentence is always the impersonal il. The actual topic is introduced after the preposition de.

💡 * Dans ce film, il s'agit d'une aventure en montagne. (In this film, it's about an adventure in the mountains.)

• De quoi s'agit-il dans cette réunion ? (What is this meeting about?)
• Il ne s'agit pas de ton opinion, mais des faits. (It's not a matter of your opinion, but of the facts.)
• Pour réussir cet examen, il s'agit de bien étudier. (To pass this exam, it's a matter of studying well.)

Are there other ways to say 'to mean' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to mean” in French?

Our guide has covered the most common and essential ways to express “to mean” in French, from the versatile vouloir dire to the formal signifier. But language is always evolving, and French is rich with subtleties, idiomatic expressions, and regional variations that can also convey meaning.

To discover more nuanced expressions, you can do an online search for “synonymes de vouloir dire” or look into specific contexts, like how to express intention versus definition.

Always pay attention to the context. A word you find in a dictionary might be technically correct, but observing how native speakers use it in conversation, films, or books is the best way to understand its true feel and appropriate usage.

As you immerse yourself in French media, listen for the moments when people clarify what they mean. You'll start to pick up on the subtle differences and gain a more intuitive grasp of the language.

If you want to explore the finer points of these verbs, the Larousse or WordReference entries for vouloir dire and signifier are excellent starting points. The forums often contain detailed discussions by native speakers.

I hope this article has helped you better understand how to express meaning in French. We'll end with a perfect quote from Blaise Pascal that touches on this very idea: Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. (The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know.)