désirer

Désirer is a French verb meaning to desire, to want, or to long for. It is a regular -er verb and is often used in more formal or literary contexts than the everyday verb vouloir. The nuance conveyed by désirer can imply a stronger, longer-lasting or more emotional wish.

Etymology and related forms: désirer comes from Old French desirier, itself from Latin desiderare, meaning to long for or to miss. It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as desire in English, desear in Spanish, and desiderare in Italian. The past participle is désiré.

Conjugation overview: in the present tense the forms are je désire, tu désires, il désire, nous désirons, vous désirez, ils désirent. The verb follows the regular -er pattern in other tenses as well: j’ai désiré (passé composé), je désirais (imperfect), je désirerai (future), je désirerais (conditional). The subjunctive present is used in subordinate clauses: que je désire, que tu désires, qu’il désire, que nous désirions, que vous désiriez, qu’ils désirent. In the imperative: désire (tu), désirons (nous), désirez (vous).

Usage and nuance: désirer describes a wish or longing for a thing, an event, or an outcome. It is commonly followed by an infinitive or by a que clause with the subjunctive (par exemple, je désire que tu viennes). It is generally more formal or literary than vouloir and can express ardent or idealized desire, including desires for truth, justice, or happiness, as well as personal longings.

Noun form: the related noun is désir (desire).