willen
Dutch
Etymology
From Middle Dutch willen, from Old Dutch willen, from Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. The variant spelling wouden goes back to early Middle Dutch wolde(n), following the standard ol > ou transformation in Middle Dutch.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʋɪl.ə(n)/
audio (file) - Rhymes: -ɪlən
Verb
willen
Inflection
Wou/wouden is often used in the past tense, depending on the region, but mostly in informal language. In formal language, wilde/wilden is preferred by many, although wou/wouden is recognized as correct standard Dutch.
| Inflection of willen (irregular) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| infinitive | willen | |||
| past singular | wilde, wou | |||
| past participle | gewild | |||
| infinitive | willen | |||
| gerund | willen n | |||
| present tense | past tense | |||
| 1st person singular | wil | wilde, wou | ||
| 2nd person sing. (jij) | wilt, wil | wilde, wou | ||
| 2nd person sing. (u) | wilt, wil | wilde, wou | ||
| 2nd person sing. (gij) | wilt | wilde, woudt | ||
| 3rd person singular | wil | wilde, wou | ||
| plural | willen | wilden, wouden | ||
| subjunctive sing.1 | wille | wilde, woude | ||
| subjunctive plur.1 | willen | wilden, wouden | ||
| imperative sing. | wil | |||
| imperative plur.1 | wilt | |||
| participles | willend | gewild | ||
| 1) Archaic. | ||||
German
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Middle Dutch
Etymology
From Old Dutch willen, from Proto-West Germanic *willjan.
Inflection
This verb needs an inflection-table template.
Descendants
Further reading
- “willen”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
- Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “willen”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English willan (“to want, intend, be willing”), from Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną (“to want”).
Verb
willen (third-person singular simple present wille, present participle willynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle wolde)
- to want something, wish for something
- to be willing, consent, agree
- to intend to do something, plan something
- to mean, signify something
- to direct, give directions
- to require, demand, dictate
- to be pleased with, like
- (auxiliary) A modal verb with several meanings:
- Expresses purpose, intent: will
- Expresses willingness: will
- Expresses certainty: will
- Expresses habitual action: will
- Expresses ability, capability: will, can
- Expresses futurity: shall, will
- Expresses expectation, conjecture: will
- Expresses imminence, impendence: will, to be about to
- Expresses a suggestion, proposal: let's
- Expressing a modest, polite wish: would like
- Expresses hypotheticals: might
- Expresses possibility, probability: to be likely to, may
Conjugation
| infinitive | (to) willen, wille, wollen, wolle | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | wille, wolle | wolde | |
| 2nd-person singular | wilt, wolt | woldest, wolde | |
| 3rd-person singular | wille, wolle | wolde | |
| subjunctive singular | wille | ||
| imperative singular | — | — | |
| plural1 | willen, wille, wollen, wolle | wolden, wolde | |
| imperative plural | — | — | |
| participles | willynge, willende | — | |
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
Quotations
- (Can we date this quote by Chaucer and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- I love no man in no gise, / That woll me reprove or chastise.
References
- “willen, v.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Verb
willen (third-person singular simple present willeth, present participle willende, willynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle willed)
References
- “willen, v.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Alternative forms
Old Dutch
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *willjan, from Proto-Germanic *wiljaną.
Inflection
This verb needs an inflection-table template.
Descendants
Further reading
- “willen”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012