willen

Willen is a Dutch verb meaning "to want." It is one of the most basic verbs in the language and is used to express desires, intentions, requests, or preferences. Examples include Ik wil een appel (I want an apple) and Wil je koffie? (Do you want coffee?). The verb often appears with other verbs to indicate intention, as in Ik wil gaan (I want to go).

In the present tense the forms are: ik wil, jij wilt, hij/zij wil, wij willen, jullie willen, zij willen. The past tense is typically expressed as ik wilde or ik wou, with wij wilden, jullie wilden, zij wilden for the plural. The past participle is gewild, and perfect tenses are formed with hebben gewild (e.g., Ik heb dat gewild — I have wanted that). For polite requests or conditional statements, Dutch often uses ik zou willen (I would like) or ik wil graag (I would like to, with gusto).

Negation is built with niet or geen, as in Ik wil niet gaan (I do not want to go) or Wij willen geen limonade (We do not want lemonade). Willen is often paired with words like graag or liever to express preference, as in Ik wil graag komen (I would like to come) or Ik wil liever thuis blijven (I would rather stay at home).

Etymology and cognates: willen is a Germanic root word related to the English will, the German wollen, and the Swedish vilja. It descends from Proto-Germanic *willijaną and shares a common ancestry with these languages, reflecting its longstanding role in expressing volition across the Germanic family.