ich will reisen
The English phrase "I want to travel" is expressed in German as ich will reisen.
This phrase is used to express a desire to visit different places.
Which one should you use?
While ich will reisen expresses a strong, direct will, ich möchte reisen is a more polite way to say "I would like to travel" and is less demanding. For a more idiomatic expression, you can use Ich möchte auf Reisen gehen, which means "I want to go on travels". If you specifically mean going away on a trip or vacation, the colloquial verb verreisen is often used instead of reisen, such as in ich will verreisen.
Did you know?
- The word reisen shares its history with the concept of 'falling' or 'dropping' in certain Middle High German dialects. This stems from a complex history of words describing movement in various directions.
- In German, saying ich will can sound like a demand or a command. To avoid sounding spoiled or aggressive, Germans often switch to ich möchte in social settings.
Examples in context
- Ich möchte gerne nach Deutschland reisen.I would like to travel to Germany.
- Ich habe das Verlangen zu reisen und neue Kulturen kennenzulernen.I have the desire to travel and experience new cultures.
- Ich will unbedingt verreisen und die Welt entdecken!I really want to travel and explore the world!
- Mir juckt es in den Füßen, ich muss unbedingt verreisen!My feet are itching, I really need to travel!
- Ich will reisen, um die Welt zu sehen.I want to travel to see the world.
- Ich will reisen, aber ich habe kein Geld.I want to travel, but I have no money.
- Ich will reisen und neue Kulturen entdecken.I want to travel and discover new cultures.
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are talking about their dreams.
- HannahIch will reisen, Lukas.I want to travel, Lukas.
- LukasWohin möchtest du gehen?Where would you like to go?
- HannahIch weiß es noch nicht genau.I don't know exactly yet.
- LukasDas klingt nach einem tollen Plan.That sounds like a great plan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, reisen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
