ich will essen
The English phrase "I want to eat" is translated into German as ich will essen.
This phrase is a statement used to express a desire for food or the act of eating. In many cases, German speakers express this desire by saying Ich habe Hunger (I have hunger) instead of using the verb for "wanting".
Which one should you use?
While ich will essen expresses a direct desire, ich möchte essen is a more polite way to express the same sentiment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Berlin dialect, you may hear Ick will essen. In the Bavarian dialect, the phrase I mag essa. is used to say "I would like to eat".
Did you know?
- In German, using the verb will in ich will essen can sound demanding or childish to native speakers. To sound more like an adult in a social setting, Germans almost always prefer the softer möchte.
- The word essen is unique because it functions as both the verb 'to eat' and the noun for 'food' or 'a meal'. For example, a German might refer to the meal itself as das Essen.
- The German verb essen is a distant relative of the English word 'eat' and the Latin word edō. Both languages inherited these words from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- Ich will essen.I want to eat.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ich will essen.Tatoeba #1003943 by MUIRIEL, translation #1356939 by sacredceltic
- Könnten wir bitte die Speisekarte haben? Ich möchte gerne etwas essen.Could we please have the menu? I would like to eat something.
- Ich habe richtig Lust auf Pizza!I really feel like having pizza!
- Ick will wat essen.I want to eat something.
- Ich will essen, aber ich weiß nicht was.I want to eat, but I don't know what.
- Jetzt bin ich hungrig und ich will essen.I am hungry now and I want to eat.
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are walking through the city.
- LauraIch will essen, hast du Hunger?I want to eat, are you hungry?
- FelixJa, ich habe auch großen Hunger.Yes, I am very hungry too.
- LauraSollen wir in das Café gehen?Shall we go into the café?
- FelixDas ist eine gute Idee, Laura.That is a good idea, Laura.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries essen, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
