souhaiter

French

The Wish (1841) by Theodor von Holst.

Etymology

Inherited from Old French sohaidier, ultimately from Gallo-Roman Vulgar Latin *subhaitare (vow with little commitment (lit. 'under-promise')), a hybrid of Latin subtus "under" + Frankish *haitan (to order, promise), from Proto-Germanic *haitaną. Compare Picard souhédhier, and for the latter etymon see Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (haitan, to address, call), Old High German heizzan, Old English hātan (to call, order) (thence see dialectal English hight and hote) and Old Norse heita (to call, name).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /swɛ.te/, /swe.te/
  • (file)

Verb

souhaiter

  1. to wish (for); to hope (for)
    • Sinsemilia, Tout le bonheur du monde
      On vous souhaite tout le bonheur du monde
      Pour aujourd’hui comme pour demain
      Que votre soleil éclaircisse l’ombre
      Qu’il brille d’amour au quotidien
      We wish you all the happiness in the world
      For today as for tomorrow
      May your sun light up the shadows
      May it shine love everyday
  2. to wish someone well, particularly in a complimentary or polite way
  3. (rare, dated) to desire someone's presence

Conjugation

Descendants

  • Ladino: suetar

Further reading

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