ich will spielen
The English phrase "I wanna play" is translated into German as ich will spielen.
The phrase ich will spielen is a straightforward way to express a direct and strong desire to engage in a game or playful activity.
Which one should you use?
While ich will spielen expresses a direct and strong desire, you may use ich möchte spielen if you want to say "I would like to play" in a more polite and softer way.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows the standard German word order for a sentence using a modal verb: the modal verb will is conjugated and placed in the second position, while the infinitive spielen is placed at the end of the sentence.
Did you know?
- While will means 'want' in modern German, it is a cognate of the English word 'will' and shares an ancestral root related to desire and intent.
- While ich will spielen is grammatically correct, saying ich will alone can sound incredibly demanding or even aggressive in German, similar to saying 'I want!' in a tantrum.
- In German, the word spielen is used to describe a theatrical performance or an actor's role, whereas English distinguishes between 'playing a game' and 'acting a part'.
Examples in context
- Hey, ich will spielen!Hey, I want to play!
- Klar, lass uns loslegen!Sure, let's get started!
- Ich möchte spielen!I want to play!
- Okay, lass uns ein Spiel aussuchen!Okay, let's pick a game!
- Ich habe Lust zu spielen!I feel like playing!
- Perfekt, welches Spiel möchtest du spielen?Perfect, which game would you like to play?
- Ich hätte gerne die Möglichkeit zu spielen.I would like the opportunity to play.
- Es würde mich freuen, wenn ich spielen könnte.It would please me if I could play.
- Ich will Fußball spielenI want to play soccer
- Ich möchte heute spielenI would like to play today
- Ich will spielen, nicht lernen.I want to play, not study.
- Ich will spielen, wenn es regnet.I want to play when it rains.
- Ich will spielen, aber ich bin müde.I want to play, but I am tired.
Example conversation
Two children are sitting in a playroom during a rainy afternoon.
- MaximilianLaura, ich will spielen!Laura, I want to play!
- LauraWas willst du spielen, Maximilian?What do you want to play, Maximilian?
- MaximilianIch will mit den Autos spielen.I want to play with the cars.
- LauraOkay, lass uns spielen.Okay, let's play.
