wollen
to want
To wish for something or want to have or do something.
EXAMPLE
Ich will heute Abend einen Film sehen.
I want to watch a movie tonight.
wollen
to want
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Meanings
wollen
to intend
To intend to do something or have a firm plan.
EXAMPLE
Sie will nächstes Jahr in Berlin studieren.
She intends to study in Berlin next year.
wollen
to demand
To demand something or insist on it.
EXAMPLE
Ich will sofort mit dem Verantwortlichen sprechen.
I want to speak to the person in charge immediately.
wollen
to claim
To claim something, especially when the statement is uncertain or not generally accepted.
EXAMPLE
Der Mann will den Unfall selbst gesehen haben.
The man claims to have seen the accident himself.
etwas will heißen
something means
Something means something or has a particular meaning.
EXAMPLE
Das will heißen, dass wir noch einmal von vorn anfangen müssen.
That means that we have to start all over again.
etwas will etwas heißen
that means something
Something is remarkable or has greater significance than it initially appears to have.
EXAMPLE
Dreißig Jahre in diesem Beruf, das will etwas heißen.
Thirty years in this profession—that means something.
etwas will gelernt sein
to take practice
Something requires practice, experience, or special skills.
EXAMPLE
Eine so schwierige Verhandlung will gelernt sein.
A negotiation that difficult takes practice.
wollen
to refuse to work
Said of something or a device: to fail to behave as expected or to fail to function.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Drucker will heute einfach nicht arbeiten.
The old printer simply refuses to work today.
Usage tips
False friend
The German word „wollen“ (to want) usually expresses a wish, an intention, or a demand. The English word “will”, on the other hand, is often used to form the future; this function is not expressed by „wollen“ (to want) in German.
EXAMPLE
Ich will nach dem Essen noch einen Spaziergang machen.
I want to go for a walk after dinner.
Modal verb with infinitive
„Wollen“ (to want) is often followed by a second verb in the infinitive without „zu“ (to). The conjugated form of „wollen“ (to want) appears in second position in the main clause, while the other infinitive comes at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Wir wollen am Wochenende unsere Freunde besuchen.
We want to visit our friends at the weekend.
Perfect tense construction
When „wollen“ (to want) is used with another infinitive in the perfect tense, two infinitives appear at the end of the sentence. The other infinitive comes before „wollen“ (to want).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat den Vertrag nicht unterschreiben wollen.
She did not want to sign the contract.
Negation
With „wollen“ (to want), „nicht“ (not) often comes directly before the infinitive when the action itself is being negated. This expresses that someone does not want to do something.
EXAMPLE
Ich will heute nicht lange bleiben.
I don't want to stay long today.
Claim with an infinitive
In this meaning, „wollen“ (to claim) is often used with a perfect infinitive. The person concerned then claims to have already done or experienced something.
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge will den Täter kurz vor dem Unfall gesehen haben.
The witness claims to have seen the perpetrator shortly before the accident.
Fixed expression
„Das will heißen“ (that means) introduces an explanation or conclusion. It is often followed by a subordinate clause with „dass“ (that) or by a brief explanation.
EXAMPLE
Die Frist ist abgelaufen; das will heißen, dass wir den Antrag neu stellen müssen.
The deadline has passed; that means that we have to submit the application again.
Fixed idiom
In „Das will etwas heißen“ (that means something), „etwas“ (something) stands for a remarkable achievement or significance. The expression often refers to a number, a long period of time, or a special experience.
EXAMPLE
Ein ganzes Jahr ohne Urlaub, das will etwas heißen.
A whole year without a vacation—that means something.
Fixed idiom
„Etwas will gelernt sein“ (something takes practice) usually follows an activity or skill and indicates that it requires practice and experience. The expression has the fixed form „will gelernt sein“ (takes practice).
EXAMPLE
Der Umgang mit so vielen Gästen will gelernt sein.
Handling so many guests takes practice.
Personification
When referring to devices or other things, „wollen“ (to want) is often used in a personifying way, especially in the expression „nicht wollen“ (to refuse to work). This makes it sound as though the thing were deliberately resisting its normal function.
EXAMPLE
Mein Laptop will seit gestern nicht mehr starten.
My laptop has refused to start since yesterday.
In real life
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