willen

See also: Willen

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch willen, from Old Dutch willen, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. The variant spelling wouden goes back to early Middle Dutch wolde(n), following the standard ol > ou transformation in Middle Dutch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋɪl.ə(n)/

• audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪlən

Verb

willen

1. to want, to desire
2. (in the past tense) to wish

   Ik wou dat ik dat kon.

   I wish I could (do) that.

Inflection

Wou/wouden is often used in the past tense, depending on the region, but mostly in informal language. In formal language, wilde/wilden is preferred by many, although wou/wouden is recognized as correct standard Dutch.

Conjugation of willen (irregular)
infinitive	willen
past singular	wilde, wou
past participle	gewild
infinitive	willen
gerund	willen n
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	wil	wilde, wou
2nd person sing. (jij)	wilt, wil	wilde, wou
2nd person sing. (u)	wilt, wil	wilde, wou
2nd person sing. (gij)	wilt	wilde, woudt
3rd person singular	wil	wilde, wou
plural	willen	wilden, wouden
subjunctive sing.1	wille	wilde, woude
subjunctive plur.1	willen	wilden, wouden
imperative sing.	wil
imperative plur.1	wilt
participles	willend	gewild
1) Archaic.

Descendants

• Afrikaans: wil

References

• Wilden / wouden / wouen (in Dutch), Genootschap Onze Taal

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Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch willen, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-.

Verb

willen

1. to want, to desire
2. (auxiliary) to want to
3. to demand, to order

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Dutch: willen
  • Afrikaans: wil
• Limburgish: wille

Further reading

• “willen”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “willen”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

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Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English willan (“to want, intend, be willing”), from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną (“to want”).

Verb

willen (third-person singular simple present wille, present participle willinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle wolde)

1. to want something, wish for something
2. to be willing, consent, agree
3. to intend to do something, plan something
4. to mean, signify something
5. to direct, give directions
6. to require, demand, dictate
7. to be pleased with, like
8. (auxiliary) A modal verb with several meanings:
   1. Expresses purpose, intent: will
   2. Expresses willingness: will
   3. Expresses certainty: will
   4. Expresses habitual action: will
   5. Expresses ability, capability: will, can
   6. Expresses futurity: shall, will
   7. Expresses expectation, conjecture: will
   8. Expresses imminence, impendence: will, to be about to
   9. Expresses a suggestion, proposal: let's
   10. Expressing a modest, polite wish: would like
   11. Expresses hypotheticals: might
   12. Expresses possibility, probability: to be likely to, may

Alternative forms

• wil, wille, wilen, welin, wole, wolle
• willian, wullen (early southwest Midlands)

Descendants

• English: will
• Scots: will, wil

References

• “willen, v.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

From Old Norse; cognate with Faroese, Icelandic villa (“to stray, err”).

Verb

willen (third-person singular simple present willeth, present participle willende, willynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle willed)

1. to go astray, wander, roam

References

• “willen, v.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

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Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wiljaną.

Verb

willen

1. to want, to desire
2. (auxiliary) to want to
3. to wish

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: willen
  • Dutch: willen
    • Afrikaans: wil
  • Limburgish: wille

Further reading

• “willen”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012