volere dire

Italian

Etymology

Literally, want to say. Compare French vouloir dire.

Verb

volére dìre (first-person singular present vòglio dìre, first-person singular past historic vòlli dìre, past participle volùto dìre, first-person singular future vorrò dìre, second-person singular imperative vògli dìre, auxiliary avére)

  1. (transitive) to mean, signify [with che (+ indicative clause when positive or subjunctive clause when negated)]
    Synonym: significare
    Quando ti ho scritto di farlo entro venerdì 6, volevo dire che per quel giorno doveva essere già fatto!
    When I texted you to do it within Friday 6th, I meant it was supposed to be already done by that day!
    Il fatto che sia qui non vuol dire che voglia restarciThe fact that I'm here doesn't mean I want to stay here

Usage notes

  • The infinitive form is much more commonly found in the apocopic form voler dire.
  • The 3rd-person singular indicative present form (vuole dire) is much more commonly found in the apocopic form vuol dire.

Conjugation