voeu

Vœu is a French noun with two main senses: a solemn promise or pledge, and a wish or desire. In religious or devotional contexts it can denote a formal vow undertaken as part of a spiritual commitment. The term derives from Latin votum and is cognate with the English word vow. The standard modern spelling is vœu, with the plural vœux; pronunciation is [vø].

In secular usage, vœu denotes a personal aspiration or formal obligation. Phrases such as “faire un vœu” or “formuler des vœux” describe wishing or hoping for something, or expressing intention. In everyday life the greeting “Meilleurs vœux” is common in New Year cards and other celebrations. The expression “vœux pieux” refers to an ostensibly pious wish, sometimes used in a skeptical sense.

Religious vows: In monastic, priestly, or pilgrimage contexts, taking a vœu involves specific duties and commitments, such as poverty, chastity, or obedience; arrangements vary by denomination. The concept exists in various faith traditions under different terms, but the French vœu remains the standard equivalent for both vow and, in many uses, wish.

Notes: In historical or typographic contexts you may see the form voeu as a nonstandard variant; modern usage prefers vœu. See also: Meilleurs vœux; vœux pieux.