veux vs voulez

Pouvez-vous m'aider? Is there a difference between the expressions "Est-ce que tu veux.." and "voulez-vous..."? Like, is one more polite than the other? Thanks

Yes, vous is always the polite form ["Est-ce que vous voulez... ?" or "Voulez-vous... ?]. The familiar form would be "Est-ce que tu veux... ?" or "Veux-tu... ?

Marshall's question is very similar to one asked on May 14, regarding "veux" and "voulez". That question is also a conversation opener and was titled, "What's the difference between the verbs tense veux and voule?" Due to the question's wording, it's not easily found with a search. Following, in part, is my response to that question: You're looking at the verb vouloir (that's the infinitive) which translates "to want" or "to desire". Veux can be used for either the first person singular or second person singular (familiar), as in " je veux un café" or "tu veux un café". Voulez is the second person formal for the verb vouloir, as in "vous voulez un café". In English, the familiar usage was dropped many years ago and we only speak in the formal. Familiar is speaking to my friend or family member; whereas, formal is speaking to someone in authority, to store clerks, or to other strangers. For this reason it's a little difficult for us English to conceptualize languages that use both of them when talking to "you". Finally, here's a suggestion: The website "Français interactif" has many helps for learning French, including a textbook of French grammar and a handy verb table. It's one of my favourites. Find it at www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/ .

Thank you guys so much, that helps a ton.

The utexas,edu is a great site. I have also been using About,com French which has been helpful with grammar. You can google you question and usually the about,com french site will be in the search results.

As a newbie who lives in France I get/got confused with veux and voulez too. Both are conjugations of vouloir. One is more immediate than the other. In other words I use them in place of want and would like in English, or in another sense one as very affirmative and one as more polite and tentative. I heard a friend use them the other day with a waiter and a friend: tu vuex - do you want (to the friend), je voudrais (to ask for the bill) and when it did not arrive (je veux payer). If a waiter asked me "Est-ce que tu veux" I would think him quite rude (he's also using the informal).