wannabe

English

Etymology

Written form of a reduction of "want to be"

Wannabe is a noun formed from a complex verb combination of the phrase, "want to be". Wannabe can be considered a conversion, category change, or functional shift.

Noun

wannabe (plural wannabes)

1. Someone who wishes to be or do something, but lacks the qualifications or talent; an overeager amateur; an aspirant.

   That wannabe thought he was very clever to get past level 1.

   Hollywood's restaurants are full of wannabe actors waiting to be discovered.

Alternative forms

• wanna-be

Translations

someone who wishes something but lacks the qualifications

• Czech: rádoby (cs)
• Dutch: Wilt zijn, wannabe (nl)

• German: Möchtegern (de) m
• Japanese: ワナビー (ja) (wanabī), ワナビ (ja) (wanabi)
• Norwegian: wannabe (no) m

See also

• would-be