To want in German is wollen. In a complete sentence, “I want” is ich will, not ich wollen. The verb is especially useful for intentions and things you want to do. When ordering politely or making a softer request, ich möchte, “I would like,” is often the better expression to learn alongside it.
Quick answer:
To want = wollen. I want = ich will. I would like = ich möchte. Example: Ich will Deutsch lernen. — I want to learn German.
How Do You Say To Want in German?
Wollen is the infinitive “to want.” It is a modal verb, which means it can combine with another infinitive to express what someone wants to do. Ich will gehen means “I want to go,” and Wir wollen bleiben means “We want to stay.”
Example: Wir wollen Italienisch lernen. — We want to learn Italian.
The singular forms look different from the infinitive. Learn ich will, du willst, and er will together. The vowel changes, and the first- and third-person singular forms do not end with the usual -e and -t that beginners may expect.
Also keep German will separate from English “will.” In German it expresses wanting or intention, not the ordinary English future auxiliary. Ich will gehen is “I want to go,” while Ich werde gehen is a future construction meaning “I will go.”
Useful Ways to Express Wanting
1. Wollen — To Want
Use wollen for a desire, plan, or intention. Wir wollen morgen ins Museum gehen means “We want to go to the museum tomorrow.” The speaker is describing a plan rather than asking another person to provide something.
Wollen can also appear with a noun: Ich will einen Kaffee means “I want a coffee.” The grammar is possible, but the direct tone may be stronger than you intend in a service interaction. A polite alternative is useful when making an order.
2. Ich Will — I Want
Ich will is the ordinary first-person form. It can sound determined, as in Ich will das schaffen — “I want to manage that” or “I want to succeed at that.” There is no need to avoid it when stating a personal goal.
For a negative intention, Ich will nicht gehen means “I don’t want to go.” If you want to say you do not want a particular item, the noun phrase can use kein: Ich will keinen Kaffee — “I don’t want any coffee.”
3. Ich Möchte — I Would Like
Ich möchte is a common way to express a wish politely. Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte means “I would like a coffee, please.” The expression is useful for orders, requests, and describing something you would like to do.
With another verb, keep the infinitive at the end: Ich möchte Deutsch lernen — “I would like to learn German.” Möchte is a form of mögen; for everyday use, learning ich möchte as a practical phrase is more helpful than inventing an infinitive such as “möchten” as a separate dictionary verb.
4. Ich Hätte Gern — I Would Like to Have
Ich hätte gern is another useful expression for requesting an item. Ich hätte gern ein Wasser means “I would like a water.” It is built from a conditional form of haben, “to have,” and the word gern.
For a beginner, Ich möchte …, bitte and Ich hätte gern … are dependable phrases to practice when ordering. See how bitte makes a German request polite when adding “please.” They do not replace wollen in every situation; they offer a softer way to communicate a request or wish.
To Want in German: Quick Comparison
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| German | English | Useful context |
|---|---|---|
| wollen | to want | The infinitive |
| ich will | I want | A direct wish or intention |
| wir wollen | we want | A shared intention |
| ich möchte | I would like | A polite wish or request |
| ich hätte gern | I would like to have | Requesting an item |
| Ich will gehen. | I want to go. | Wollen with an infinitive |
| Ich werde gehen. | I will go. | A future construction |
| Ich mag Kaffee. | I like coffee. | A preference, not the same as wanting it now |
How to Pronounce Wollen and Will
Wollen begins with a sound like English v, not English w. It is approximately VOL-en, with a short vowel in the first syllable. The final unstressed ending may sound reduced in natural speech.
Will also begins with v, approximately “vil.” Its vowel is short, similar to the vowel in English “sit.” Do not read the word as though it were the English future auxiliary spelled the same way.
Möchte contains the rounded vowel ö and a soft German ch sound. English approximations cannot capture both accurately. Listen to Ich möchte as a whole phrase, keeping the final -e light rather than turning the word into a single English syllable.
Present-Tense Forms of Wollen
The singular forms use will, while the plural forms are closer to the infinitive. Learn the full set so you can change the speaker without losing the intended meaning.
- ich will — I want
- du willst — you want, informal singular
- er / sie / es will — he / she / it wants
- wir wollen — we want
- ihr wollt — you want, informal plural
- sie wollen — they want
- Sie wollen — you want, formal
For a question, the conjugated verb can come first: Willst du mitkommen? — “Do you want to come along?” Formal address uses Wollen Sie mitkommen? The infinitive mitkommen stays at the end.
Do not add another conjugated form after wollen. Wir wollen gehen has the plural modal verb wollen and the infinitive gehen. The second verb does not change to match wir independently.
Using Wollen with Another Verb
In a basic statement, put the conjugated form of wollen in the second position and the other infinitive at the end: Ich will morgen Deutsch lernen — “I want to learn German tomorrow.” The time expression comes between the two verb parts.
Do not insert zu before the infinitive in this modal construction. Ich will lernen is the pattern, rather than Ich will zu lernen. The same useful principle applies to other modal verbs such as können in Ich kann schwimmen. For a language-learning example, compare the Deutsch sprechen sentence patterns.
A question follows the same sentence bracket: Was willst du heute machen? — “What do you want to do today?” The question word comes first, the conjugated verb next, and the infinitive machen remains at the end.
When naming a thing wanted, use the case required for the object. Einen Kaffee is accusative masculine in Ich möchte einen Kaffee. The polite wording changes the tone of the request, but it does not remove the noun’s grammatical case.
Example Sentences
These examples show an intention, a question about a shared plan, and a polite request. Choose the form that matches both the meaning and the situation.
Use: Will describes a personal intention. Üben remains an infinitive at the end.
Use: Wollt matches informal plural ihr. Machen is the final infinitive.
Use: Möchte gives the request a polite tone. Einen Tee is an accusative noun phrase.
Common Mistakes
Do not confuse German ich will with English “I will.” Do not say ich wolle as the ordinary present-tense statement “I want,” and do not invent er willt. The standard forms here are ich will and er will.
Keep the second verb in the infinitive at the end and omit zu after the modal verb. For polite requests, consider ich möchte or ich hätte gern, while keeping wollen for direct statements of desire and intention. Tone depends on the whole situation, not just one verb.
Frequently Asked Questions About To Want in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is to want in German?
The infinitive is wollen. “I want” is ich will, and “we want” is wir wollen.
Does ich will mean I will?
Not in the ordinary English future sense. Ich will means “I want.” A future construction can use ich werde with an infinitive.
How do I say I would like politely?
Use ich möchte, as in Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte. Another useful expression for requesting an item is Ich hätte gern…
Do I need zu after wollen?
No. In the modal construction, use an infinitive without zu: Ich will gehen, “I want to go.”
What is the du form of wollen?
It is du willst. A useful question is Willst du mitkommen?, “Do you want to come along?”
Is wollen always rude?
No. It is normal for direct desires and intentions, such as wanting to learn a language. When making an order or requesting something from another person, möchte can give a softer tone.
Summary
To want in German is wollen. Learn the key forms ich will, du willst, and wir wollen. With another verb, place the infinitive at the end without zu.
Use ich möchte or ich hätte gern when a polite request is your goal. Keep German will separate from English future “will,” and practice a complete sentence such as Ich will Deutsch lernen.
