French Phrase
J'espère réussir.
Meaning
Literally, “I hope to succeed.” It expresses a personal wish or confidence that the speaker will achieve a goal, often used before a test, interview, or any challenging task.
When to use
Use this phrase right before an event you’re about to face—an exam, a job interview, a competition, or any situation where success is uncertain but you’re optimistic.
✦Grammar Breakdown
J'espèreréussir
Elision (J')
The subject pronoun *je* drops the *e* before a vowel or mute *h*, becoming *j'* (e.g., *j'espère*).
Espérer (present)
Espérer is a regular -er verb; in the present tense, *j'espère* means “I hope”.
Infinitive after espérer
When the hope is about the speaker’s own action, French uses the infinitive directly after *espérer*: *j'espère réussir*.
🗨In Conversation
Tu vas passer le concours demain ?
Are you taking the exam tomorrow?
Oui, j'espère réussir.
Yes, I hope to succeed.
✕Common Mistakes
J'espère que je réussis.
Use the future tense after *que* for a future event, or keep the infinitive without *que*.
J'espere réussir.
Missing the accent on *espère* and the elision; it should be *J'espère*.
J'espère réussir à.
The preposition *à* is unnecessary unless you specify *réussir à* + infinitive (e.g., *réussir à parler*).
↔Alternatives
J'espère que je réussirai.
I hope that I will succeed.
J'espère réussir ce projet.
I hope to succeed in this project.
J'espère bien réussir.
I really hope to succeed.
Cultural Tip
In French, *espérer* followed by an infinitive is the most natural way to talk about your own hopes. When the hope concerns someone else, you’ll often hear *j'espère qu'il/elle…* with a clause in the present or future. Avoid using *espérer que* with the present tense for future events; instead, use the future tense after *que* (e.g., *j'espère qu'il réussira*).