French Phrase
Tu te vois où dans cinq ans ?
Meaning
Literally, 'Where do you see yourself in five years?' It asks the listener to imagine their future situation or position five years from now.
When to use
Use this informal question with friends, classmates, or colleagues when discussing career plans, personal goals, or simply making small talk about the future.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tutevoisoùdanscinqans?
Pronoun Reflexive (te)
The reflexive pronoun 'te' matches the subject 'tu' and is placed before the verb in present tense.
Verb 'voir' (present)
Here 'voir' is conjugated as 'vois' for 'tu' and means 'to see' in the sense of 'imagine' or 'envision'.
Interrogative 'où'
Used to ask about location or, figuratively, a point in time or situation.
Preposition 'dans'
Introduces a future time frame; 'dans cinq ans' = 'in five years'.
Number Agreement
'cinq ans' stays plural; no article needed before a number.
🗨In Conversation
Tu te vois où dans cinq ans ?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
J'espère être chef de projet dans une start‑up technologique.
I hope to be a project manager at a tech startup.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu vois où dans cinq ans ?
Do not drop the reflexive pronoun; 'voir' needs 'te' to convey 'see yourself'.
Tu te vois où en cinq ans ?
Avoid using 'en cinq ans' which means 'within five years' rather than 'in five years' from now.
Où te vois‑tu dans cinq ans ?
The inversion form 'Où te vois‑tu' is more formal; keep the order for informal speech.
↔Alternatives
Où te vois‑tu dans cinq ans ?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Quel sera ton poste dans cinq ans ?
What will be your position in five years?
Qu'est‑ce que tu imagines pour ton avenir dans cinq ans ?
What do you imagine for your future in five years?
Cultural Tip
In French, the informal 'tu' is common among peers, but in a professional interview you would switch to the formal 'vous' – e.g., 'Où vous voyez‑vous dans cinq ans ?'. Also, French speakers often answer with a concrete role or life situation rather than a vague 'happy' answer.