Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to want" in Italian: volere
volere
To want in Italian is volere (voh-LEH-reh). Present forms include io voglio, tu vuoi, lui/lei vuole, noi vogliamo. For polite orders, vorrei (I would like) softens the request.
Choosing dessert
Voglio il tiramisù.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce volere
Say it
voh-LEH-reh
/voˈle.re/
Volere stresses LEH: voh-LEH-reh. Voglio is VOHL-yoh. Vuoi is a quick VWOY.
"to want" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| volere | to want Desire or will as a verb. | Desire or will as a verb. |
| voglio / vuoi / vuole | I want / you want / he-she wants Irregular singular present. | Irregular singular present. |
| vorrei | I would like Polite café and shop requests. | Polite café and shop requests. |
| volere dire | to mean Cosa vuoi dire? = what do you mean? | Cosa vuoi dire? = what do you mean? |
How to use volere in real life
- 1Choosing dessert
Voglio il tiramisù.
I want the tiramisu.
Direct voglio with friends or clear orders.
- 2Asking a partner
Cosa vuoi bere?
What do you want to drink?
Vuoi + infinitive for plans.
- 3At a counter
Vorrei un panino, grazie.
I'd like a sandwich, thanks.
Vorrei is the polite softener.
Mistakes English speakers make with volere
Incorrect: Io volere un caffè.
Correct: Voglio un caffè. / Vorrei un caffè.
Conjugate: io voglio, or use polite vorrei.
Incorrect: Tu vogli un gelato?
Correct: Tu vuoi un gelato?
The tu form is vuoi, not vogli.
Good to know
Voglio can sound blunt with strangers. In shops, vorrei or a simple noun plus per favore often feels smoother. With friends, voglio and vuoi are normal and clear.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding lunch near the office
ChatPal
Tu vuoi pizza o insalata?
Do you want pizza or salad?
You
Voglio pizza, senza dubbio.
I want pizza, no doubt.
ChatPal
Allora voglio anche io la stessa.
Then I want the same too.
You
Perfetto. Al banco dico vorrei due pizze.
Perfect. At the counter I'll say I'd like two pizzas.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to want" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to want" in Italian
What is the difference between voglio and vorrei?
Voglio is I want. Vorrei is I would like and sounds more polite.
How do I say what do you want?
Cosa vuoi? with tu, or cosa vuole? with lei.
Is volere irregular?
Yes. Learn voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono as a set.
What does volere dire mean?
To mean. Cosa vuoi dire? asks what you mean.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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