Italian 102 · Lesson 15
Volere and Vorrei
Express a wish and make a request that sounds polite.
Begin ↓01 / 08
Say what you want to do
Voglio andare a Roma.
VOH-lyoh an-DAH-reh ah ROH-mah
I want to go to Rome.
Volere means to want. Use a second verb in its dictionary form after it.
02 / 08
Ask about a wish
Vuoi venire?
Do you want to come?
Vuole partire domani.
He / she wants to leave tomorrow.
Vuoi is informal you want. Vuole is he, she or polite you wants; English translates it according to the subject.
03 / 08
Group plans
Vogliamo mangiare.
We want to eat.
Volete uscire? / Vogliono restare.
Do you all want to go out? / They want to stay.
Keep the second verb unchanged. Only volere changes with the person.
04 / 08
Make a polite request
Vorrei un caffè.
vor-RAY oon kaf-FEH
I’d like a coffee.
Vorrei means I would like. It is a different form of volere, useful as a ready-made phrase before learning the whole conditional.
05 / 08
Ask to do something
Vorrei prenotare un tavolo.
I’d like to book a table.
Vorrei pagare.
I’d like to pay.
Vorrei also goes before an infinitive. There is no extra a or di between these two verbs.
06 / 08
Choose the tone
Voglio imparare l’italiano.
I want to learn Italian.
Vorrei un’acqua, per favore.
I’d like a water, please.
Voglio is useful for a clear personal intention. In a service request, it can sound blunt; vorrei is usually a better default.
07 / 08
Booking a table
Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due.
I’d like to book a table for two.
Per che ora? — Per le otto.
For what time? — For eight.
Give the request first, then the number of people and time. Per due means for two people here.
Remember this
Takeaway
Voglio andare al ristorante. Vorrei prenotare.
I want to go to the restaurant. I’d like to book.
The present forms are voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono. For your own polite request, keep vorrei ready.