The German verb "wollen" means "to want" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "wollen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | will |
| du | you (informal) | willst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | will |
| wir | we | wollen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wollt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wollen |
Er will das Buch lesen.
He wants to read the book.
How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | wollte |
| du | you (informal) | wolltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wollte |
| wir | we | wollten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wolltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wollten |
Er wollte heute früher nach Hause fahren.
He wanted to drive home earlier today.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gewollt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gewollt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gewollt |
| wir | we | haben gewollt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gewollt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gewollt |
Er hat ein Eis essen wollen.
He has wanted to eat an ice cream.
How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gewollt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gewollt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gewollt |
| wir | we | hatten gewollt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gewollt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gewollt |
Er hatte nach Hause gehen wollen.
He had wanted to go home.
How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde wollen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst wollen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird wollen |
| wir | we | werden wollen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet wollen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden wollen |
Er wird ein Eis essen wollen.
He will want to eat an ice cream.
How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | wolle |
| du | you (informal) | wollest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wolle |
| wir | we | wollen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wollet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wollen |
Er sagt, er wolle nach Hause.
He says he wants to go home.
How to Conjugate "wollen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | wollte |
| du | you (informal) | wolltest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wollte |
| wir | we | wollten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | wolltet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | wollten |
Er wollte, er könnte besser singen.
He wishes he could sing better.
Frequently Asked Questions About "wollen"
Is "wollen" regular or irregular in German?
"Wollen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "wollen" mean in English?
The German verb "wollen" means "to want" in English.
How do you conjugate "wollen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → will, du → willst, er/sie/es → will, wir → wollen, ihr → wollt, sie/Sie → wollen.
How many tenses does "wollen" have in German?
"Wollen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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