vuoi
The Italian phrase for "do you want" is vuoi.
A question used to ask if someone desires something or wishes to do something.
Which one should you use?
While vuoi is the second person singular form used to ask "do you want" to one person, volete is the plural form used when asking "do you (all) want".
How does it change in a sentence?
The subject pronoun tu (you) is often omitted because the verb ending vuoi already indicates the subject. The form vuole is the third person singular of the verb volere and is used to mean "he/she/you (formal) wants".
Did you know?
- The English word 'volunteer' comes from the same Latin root as vuoi. It stems from voluntas, meaning 'will' or 'wish'.
- The verb volere is used in the phrase volerci, which describes the time or effort required for something. For example, ci vuole un'ora means 'it takes an hour' rather than 'it wants an hour'.
- In Italian, if you ask vuoi? while offering something, it is common to accompany the phrase with a slight tilt of the head and an open palm gesture.
Examples in context
- Lo vuoi o no?Do you want it or not?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants a specific thing.Tatoeba #5703782 by Guybrush88, translation #2011636 by CK
- Ne vuoi un po'?Do you want some?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants a small amount of something.Tatoeba #5074396 by Guybrush88, translation #2648847 by CK
- Cosa vuoi da me?What do you want from me?This sentence is useful for asking what someone's intention is toward the speaker.Tatoeba #664338 by Guybrush88, translation #664248 by BlueLagoon
- Vuole un caffè?Do you want a coffee?
- Vuoi un gelato?Do you want an ice cream?
- 1249 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are sitting in a cafe.
- FrancescoMartina, vuoi un dolce?Martina, do you want a dessert?
- MartinaNo grazie, non ho molta fame.No thank you, I am not very hungry.
- FrancescoVuoi ordinare solo un tè?Do you want to just order a tea?
- MartinaSì, un tè caldo sarebbe perfetto.Yes, a hot tea would be perfect.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
