vontades

Vontade is a noun in Portuguese that denotes a mental faculty of desiring or intending something. It can refer to a general inclination, a specific wish, or the decision to act. The plural 'vontades' is used when speaking of several desires or impulses, whether fleeting or enduring, or when describing a person’s motives at a given moment.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin voluntas, through the development of Romance languages. In Portuguese, it has come to designate both everyday wishes and more formal notions of will or volition.

Usage: In ordinary speech, 'ter vontade de fazer algo' means to feel like doing something. 'Fazer por vontade própria' conveys action by one's own volition, while 'força de vontade' refers to willpower—the effort to persist with a goal despite obstacles. Vontades can be appetitive (vontades gastronômicas), emotional, or aspirational (vontades de ser artista, de viajar). In psychology and philosophy, 'vontade' or 'volição' denotes the capacity to initiate and sustain actions, though everyday usage often treats it as a broader sense of motive.

Notes: Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese share the same core sense, with stylistic differences. In literature, 'vontade' often signals the motive force behind characters' actions. Related terms include vontade (singular), volição (technical term for volition), and the broader concepts of will or desire found in various disciplines and translations.