avoir envie

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.vwa.ʁ‿ɑ̃.vi/

Verb

avoir envie

1. Template:indtr to want; to desire (sexually)

   Est-ce que tu as envie de fraises, par hasard ? ― Would you like some strawberries, by any chance?

   J’ai envie de toi. ― I want you.

2. Template:indtr to feel like, to want to

   J’ai envie de baiser. ― I wanna fuck.

   Je n’ai pas envie de danser. ― I don't feel like dancing.

3. Template:indtr to feel an urge to

   J’ai envie de vomir. ― I wanna puke.

   J’ai envie de chier. ― I gotta take a shit.

Usage notes

Even though envie is a noun, it can take an adverb: j'en ai très envie, "I want it a lot". This usage, frowned upon in the past, is now perfectly standard; conversely, an adjectival modifier (j'en ai grande envie) sounds dated. Compare avoir faim, avoir soif, etc.