Dutch Verb 'Willen' (to want, wish, desire, would like to)

Welcome - Site Maps: Mobile - Desktop
~ Desktop/Tablet Version of This Page

Dutch Verb Willen ('to want, wish, desire, would like to') - Smartphones Page

Conjugation		Sample Sentences

Related Words

'Willen'

2 is a weak verb - not what you'd expect of such a common verb.
For the Dutch W, keep lips relaxed, not rounded like in English W; Dutch W starts with the top of the lower lip touching the front upper teeth, but without clearly blowing out air like for a V or F. The sound is formed in the back of the mouth, and not in the front like English W - more
Wij willen water

We want water

'What I Want'
Loves, Likes and Preferences in Dutch

Conjugation

Overview:

willen		to want (etc.)
ik wil		I want
wij willen		we want
ik wilde		I wanted
wij wilden		we wanted
ik heb gewild		I have wanted

The Simple Present Tense:

willen		to want
ik wil		I want
jij wilt		you (singular, informal) want
hij wil		he wants
wij willen		we want
jullie willen		you (plural, informal) want
zij willen		they want
U wilt		you (polite) want
2

Do notice that there is no T for the third person singular: hij wil

2 3 but there is the regular T for the second person singular je wilt

The Simple Past Tense:

(willen)		to want
ik wilde		I wanted
jij wilde		you wanted
hij wilde		he wanted
wij wilden		we wanted
jullie wilden		y'all wanted
zij wilden		they wanted
U wilde		you wanted

Though principal meanings diverged, 'willen' and the English auxiliary verb for the future tense 'will' are from the same root. (Dutch has zullen

as the auxiliary verb for the future tense.) You can see the connection of the verbs in the probably old 'strong' forms of informal speech 'wou' and 'wouden' for the simple past tense - nowadays mostly in colloquial use.

ik wou	I wanted - more below
wij wouden 2	we wanted

The Perfect Tense:
ik heb gewild I have wanted, desired Ik heb 't nooit gewild 2 I never wanted it (to happen)
The present perfect tense is very unusual, but the past perfect tense may be found for hoped-for outcomes that didn't happen, unfulfilled wishes:
ik had gewild ... 2 I had wanted to ...

When used in the perfect tense combined with other verbs, 'willen' will be an infinitive, not a past participle (more)
ik had willen ... 2 3 I had wanted to ..., I wanted to but was prevented to do so Ik had willen doorgaan 2 3 4 I [had] wanted to go on, continue (the present perfect is unusual)

auxiliary verb for the perfect tenses hebben

Sample Sentences

Dus je wilt Nederlands leren?

So you want to learn Dutch? Ik wil Nederlands leren

2 3 I want to learn Dutch Ik wil graag Nederlands praten

2 3 ~ I really want to speak Dutch

Hij wil 't zo graag 2 3 4 He really wants it, he wants it so badly

Ik wil graag helpen 2 3 I want to help, I really like to help people ... maar soms wordt 't niet op prijs gesteld
... maar 't wordt soms niet op prijs gesteld ... but sometimes it's not appreciated

Ik wil een nieuwe fiets 2 I want a new bicycle Ik wil een groter huis 2 3 I would like a bigger house

Ik wil een vrije dag 2
Ik wil een dag vrij 2 [I want a free day, a day free] - I want a day off

Ik wil geen brood 2 3 I don't want bread (not a polite thing to say!) Ik wil geen feest 2 3 I don't want a party

Wil je een kopje thee? 2 Would you like a cup of tea? Ja, graag 2 Yes, please (informal) Nee, dank je 2 No, thank you (informal) - more

Wil je koffie of thee of iets fris? 2 3 Would you like coffee or tea or [something 'fresh'] - juice or soda?

Wil je kaas of ham op je brood? Would you like cheese or ham on your sandwich?

Wil je iets toe? 2 3 Would you like [something to finish] dessert?

Wilt U een bonnetje? 2 3 Would you like a (cash register) receipt?

Ik wil niet meer 2 [I don't want any more] - I don't want to go on

Hij wil altijd meer 2 3 He always wants more, it's never enough for him

Is dat wat je wilt? 2 3 Is that what you want? Zou je dat willen? 2 3 4 Would you want that? Is that what you'd want?

Wil je meezingen? Would you like to sing along? (singular 'you') Willen jullie meezingen? Would you guys like to sing along?

Als jullie niet willen meewerken ... 2 If you guys don't want to cooperate ...

Ik wil 't weten 2 I want to know [it] willen weten 2 3 wanting to know
Ik wil 't goed doen 2 3 I want to do it well, I want to do a good job

Wil je wat eten? [Would you like to eat something?] Would you like something to eat? Would you like some food? Are you hungry? Wil je wat drinken? 2 Would you like something to drink? Are you thirsty? Wat wil je drinken? 2 What would you like to drink? Wat wil je horen? What would you like to hear? (music choice) Wat wil je weten? What would you like to know? What do you need to know?

Wat wil je later worden? What do you [later] want to be when you grow up?

Ik wil weten hoe 't afloopt 2 I want to know how it ends (a story, a movie etc.)

Wil je blijven eten? 2 3 (4) Would you like to stay for dinner? (or another meal)
Wil je een keer bij mij komen eten? 2 3 Would you like to have dinner (or lunch) at my house sometime?

Ik wil er nog even over nadenken 2 3 I want (need?) some time to think about it Ik wil er nog een nachtje over slapen 2 I'd like to sleep on it, I'll take a decision or let you know my answer tomorrow

Ik wil weten wat er gebeurd is 2 3 I want to know what happened Ik wil precies weten wat er gebeurd is 2 3 I want to know exactly what happened Ik wil weten wat er precies gebeurd is 2 3 I want to know what exactly happened

Ik wil er niks mee te maken hebben 2 3 [I want nothing ...] - I don't want to have anything to do with it

Ik wil je niet van je werk houden 2 3 I don't want to keep you from your work

Ik wil ook nog een keer naar Amerika I would (also) like to visit the US sometime ('America') Ik wil nòg een keer naar Jeruzalem 2 3 I would like to visit Jerusalem again
nòg 'n 2 'another'
- stressing 'nog' changes the meaning of 'nog een keer' from 'sometime' to 'again, another time' Wie weet er nog een mop? Who [knows] has a joke to tell? Wie weet er nòg een mop? 2 Who still [knows] has another joke to tell? (a group of people have been cracking jokes but they have gone quiet)

Ik wil geen vlees eten 2 I don't want to eat meat Ik wil liever geen vlees eten 2 3 I'd rather not eat meat

Wilt U via een tolk spreken? 2 Would you like to speak through an interpreter? Wilt U liever met een tolk spreken? 2 Would you rather, would you prefer to speak through an interpreter?

Wat wil je liever? 2 3 What would you rather have (or do)? What would you prefer? Wil je dat liever? 2 3 4 Would you rather have (or do) that? Would you prefer that?

Wat wil je dan? 2 3 4 What then do you want? What is it that you want? (exasperated, it's not clear to the speaker what the addressed person wants)

Dit is wat ik wil 2 3 This is what I want Dit is hoe ik het wil 2 3 4 This is how I want it Dit is zoals ik het wil 2 3 This is like, how I want it

Ik wil niet dat iemand me ziet I don't want anybody to see me

Ik wil niks verloren laten gaan 2 [I want nothing to get lost] I don't want anything to go to waste

April doet wat-ie wil 2 'April does as it likes' - April weather is unpredictable Hij doet toch wat-ie wil 2 He does as he likes anyway

Hij wilde niet naar de radio luisteren 2 He didn't want to listen to the radio

Het was niet wat hij wilde horen It was not what he wanted, had hoped to hear - unwelcome news, unwelcome opinions Ze willen 't niet horen 2 3 4 They don't want to hear it, they don't want to listen to it

Kom je binnen of wil je buiten blijven? Are you coming inside or would you rather stay outside?

Ik wil het best wel vertellen hoor 2 3 4 [I am certainly willing to tell you] - I don't mind telling you

Zou je dat willen? 2 3 4 Would you like that? Is that what you want? Is dat wat je wilt? 2 3 Is that what you want?

Ik zou wel eens willen weten ... 2 Sometime I would like to know, find out ... Dat zou ik ook wel eens willen weten 2 That's something I too would like to know ('sometime') Ik zou ook wel eens willen weten wat dat is 2 3 4 I also would like to know 'sometime' what that is

Polite and friendly questions often combine 'willen' 2 with 'zou U' 2 or 'zou je' 2 - translated in English as 'Could you please' or 'Would you mind' - more

Zou je alsjeblieft Nederlands willen spreken? Could you please speak Dutch? (informal 'you') Zou U alstublieft Nederlands willen spreken? Could you please speak Dutch? (polite 'you') Zou U dat nog eens willen zeggen? (2) [Could you please say that once again?] - Would you mind repeating that? Zou U wat langzamer willen spreken? 2 Would you mind speaking a little slower? Zou U wat langzamer kunnen praten? [Could you please ] Would you mind talking a little slower?

Ik wil naar huis 2 [I want homeward] I want to go home Ik wil niet naar Arnhem 2 I don't want to go to Arnhem
(Note that Dutch leaves out the 'gaan' / to go ) Ik wil weg uit Amsterdam 2 3 4 [I want to get out of A.] - I want to leave Amsterdam

Ik wil gaan wandelen I want to go [walking] for a walk Ik wil gaan zwemmen I want to go [swimming] for a swim Morgen wil ik gaan hardlopen 2 Tomorrow I want to go running Ze wilde gaan zwemmen 2 3 She wanted to go swimming

The informal ik wou usually expresses regret, a vain hope, something that's not likely to happen or something impossible, and not that it happened in the past. In more formal speech this is ik zou willen
English usually has this as the present tense of 'to wish:' I wish ...

Ik wou dat er een betere oplossing was I wish there was a better solution Ik wou dat er een betere manier was 2 3 I wish there was a better way (to do something) Ik wou dat 't voorbij was 2 3 I wish it was [past] over Ik wou dat 't nooit gebeurd was 2 I wish it had never happened

To express the regret etc. in the previous examples, you could also use the simple past ik wilde 2 or the 'conditional' ik zou willen but ik wou is more common.

Ik wilde dat ik harder kon schoppen
Ik zou willen dat ik harder kon schoppen (2)
Ik wou dat ik harder kon schoppen 2 I wish I could kick (the ball) harder - soccer

But in common slang, ik wou is just used as the simple past, instead of ik wilde 2

Krek wa'k wou 2 'Just what I wanted, exactly what I was looking for' In proper speech, this is said as:
Precies wat ik wilde 2 Exactly what I wanted Precies wat ik nodig had 2 3 Exactly what I needed - 'it hit the spot'

'Had willen' 2 3 is often said for a hoped-for or planned outcome that unfortunately didn't happen, or for a hypothetical situation

Ik had harder willen schoppen I had wanted to kick harder Ik had de bal harder willen schoppen I had wanted to kick the ball harder

Ik had schrijver willen worden, maar ik ben spreker geworden I wanted to be a writer, but I've become a speaker

Ik had willen blijven liggen 2 3 I had wanted to [remain lying down] stay in bed

Ik had je gisteren willen waarschuwen 2 I had wanted to warn you yesterday, I was going to warn you but it didn't happen

Ik denk niet dat hij naar ons had willen luisteren 2 I don't think he had been willing to listen to us

from 'Miracle on 34th Street:'
Zeg maar wat je zou willen hebben van Sinterklaas 2 [Just say] Tell me what you would like to have (receive) from Santa Ik wil alleen maar bij deze lieve mevrouw blijven 2 [I want only] All I want is to stay with this kind lady

Wat wil je hebben? 2 What would you like? (to have, receive) Wat wil je hebben voor je verjaardag? What would you like for you birthday? Wat wil je voor je verjaardag hebben? 2 What would you like for you birthday?

Ik wilde je net roepen 2 3 I was about to, I was going to call you (your name)

't Wil maar niet lukken 2 3 It just will not succeed, we're having trouble getting it to work

Wat wil je toch van mij? 2 3 What is it that you want of me?

af willen van 2 wanting, desiring to be rid of Ik wil er vanaf 2 3 I want to be rid of it, I want it gone Als ik ergens vanaf zou willen zijn het die migraines 2 3 If there is [something] one thing I'd like to be rid of it's those migraines See also ‑>>

Related Words

The noun '(de) wil'

'will' -- a feeling what you want to do and/or what you don't want to do, the drive behind your actions -- like in English the word is becoming old-fashioned, formal, not much used in common speech.
English 'will,' a document stating what to do with a person's possessions after death is (het) testament

(de) wilskracht 2 3 willpower - note the inserted S - it's an old-fashioned possesive form

Uw wil geschiede 2 'Your will be done'
- from 'het onze vader' 2 The Lord's Prayer

Moeders wil is wet 2 A mother's wishes are the law of the house

De wil van het volk 2 3 The will of the people

't Was tegen z'n wil 2 3 It was against his will, against his wishes, he did not want it

De wil ontbreekt 2 3 4 The will is lacking, there is no willingness

Waar een wil is, is een weg 2 3 Where there's a will, there's a way also: Willen is kunnen 2 3 4 [Wanting to is being able to] - You can do it if you really want to Je moet wel willen 2
Je moet 't wel willen You have to want (it) - It's not going to happen if you do not really want it

Elk wat wils There's something for every taste, to everyone's liking

willens en wetens 2 [deliberate and knowingly] - wittingly

't Is voor je eigen bestwil 2 3 It's for your own benefit, it's in your own interest (You'll thank me later)

welwillend meaning well, benevolent, kind

vrijwillig voluntarily
(de) vrijwilliger 2 volunteer

De geest is gewillig, maar 't vlees is zwak 2 3 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41)

(de) onwil 2 3 unwillingness
onwillig 2 3 unwilling

weigeren 2 to refuse
geweigerd 2 refused (past participle)
(de) weigering 2 refusal
weigerachtig 2 unwilling, reluctant, uncooperative
(de) dienstweigeraar 2 [draft, military service-refuser] - conscientious objector

(de) wens wish, desire
(de) wenselijkheid desirablility

Mijn grootste wens is ... 2 3 My greatest wish is ..., above all else I would wish ...

"Je mag drie wensen doen" 2 3 You can (may?) make 3 wishes

(het) verlangen 2 desire - think of: 'longing'
(het) verlanglijstje 2 wish list (birthday)

(de) bereidheid 2 willingness, readiness

Maybe not related:
(de) willekeur arbitrariness, random or on a whim
willekeurig 2 / willekeurige 2 arbitrary, random

Compare: (het) toeval chance
toevallig 2 by accident, not planned

een willekeurige voorbijganger a random passer-by, a randomly chosen passer-by een toevallige voorbijganger a random passer-by, a person who just happened to be passing by - a subtle difference

The probably unrelated adjective and adverb 'wild' (wild / wilde ) is like English 'wild,' uncontrolled or not touched by civilization

wild zwijn 2 wild boar
wilde aardbeien wild strawberries
The noun '(het) wild' is English 'game' - meat from the hunt, meat from wild animals

(Het) woud 2 plural: wouden is 'wood,' a large, dense forest - Het Zwarte Woud 2 ('The Black Forest' in Germany)

Smartphone Verbs Home

More Good Dutch Smartphone Pages