Voulaient (en. Wanted)

/vulɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Form of the verb to want in the third person plural in the imperfect tense.

They wanted to go to the movies.

Ils voulaient aller au cinéma.

Expresses a past desire or intention.

They wanted to buy a new car.

Elles voulaient acheter une nouvelle voiture.

Indicates an unfulfilled preference in the past.

We wanted to visit Paris last summer.

Nous voulions visiter Paris l'été dernier.

From Old French 'voloir,' derived from Latin 'volere' which means 'to want.'

I meant to say

Used to correct or clarify what one has said previously.

Je voulais dire

They wanted it to change

Indicates a desire for change in a situation.

Ils voulaient que ça change

What they actually wanted

Refers to the true intention or wish of the people.

Ce qu'ils voulaient réellement

to want

To intend to do something.

vouloir

to desire

To have a strong wish for something.

désirer

to wish

To express a wish or preference.

souhaiter

They really want to do something.

They really wanted to go out and enjoy the evening.

Ils voulaient vraiment sortir pour profiter de la soirée.

They were eager to do something.

They really wanted to go to the party.

Ils voulaient grave aller à la fête.