French Phrase
Tu veux dîner ce soir ?
Meaning
A friendly, informal way to ask someone if they would like to have dinner together tonight. It carries the nuance of an invitation rather than a simple factual question.
When to use
Use this phrase with people you address using ‘tu’ – friends, classmates, coworkers you’re close to, or family members. It’s perfect for casual plans, not for formal or business settings where you would say ‘Vous voulez dîner ce soir ?’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuveuxdînercesoir?
Subject pronoun (Tu)
‘Tu’ is the informal singular second‑person pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
Verb ‘vouloir’ (veux)
‘Vouloir’ means ‘to want’. In the present tense it is conjugated as ‘veux’ for ‘tu’.
Infinitive after ‘vouloir’ (dîner)
When ‘vouloir’ is followed by another verb, the second verb stays in the infinitive – here ‘dîner’ (to have dinner).
Time expression (ce soir)
‘Ce soir’ literally means ‘this evening’ and is the most common way to refer to tonight.
Question format
In spoken French the intonation rises at the end; no inversion is needed because the subject pronoun is already present.
🗨In Conversation
Tu veux dîner ce soir ?
Do you want to have dinner tonight?
Oui, avec plaisir ! On se retrouve à 20 h au restaurant du coin ?
Yes, with pleasure! Shall we meet at 8 p.m. at the local restaurant?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu voulez dîner ce soir ?
‘Voulez’ is the formal/plural form; pairing it with ‘tu’ creates a mismatch in register.
Tu veux diner ce soir ?
Missing the accent on the ‘é’ changes the pronunciation and can be confused with the noun ‘dîner’ (the meal).
Tu veux dîner soir ?
Leaving out the article ‘ce’ makes the time expression sound incomplete.
↔Alternatives
Tu veux manger ce soir ?
Do you want to eat tonight?
Ça te dit de dîner ce soir ?
Do you feel like having dinner tonight?
Vous voulez dîner ce soir ?
Would you like to have dinner tonight? (formal/plural)
On se fait un dîner ce soir ?
Shall we have dinner tonight?
Cultural Tip
In France dinner is usually served later than in many other countries, often around 8 pm or later. It’s common to meet friends for a relaxed, multi‑course meal that can last an hour or more. When you say ‘dîner’, you’re referring to the main evening meal, not a quick snack. Also, remember that using ‘tu’ signals familiarity; if you’re unsure, start with ‘vous’ and let the other person suggest switching to ‘tu’.