“I wanted” can be volevo or ho voluto in Italian, and the choice changes what you’re saying. That’s because some verbs, like volere, dovere, potere and conoscere, change meaning depending on whether you use the imperfetto or the passato prossimo. In this article, we focus on volere.
In short
- Volevo = I wanted to (a wish or plan, maybe it didn’t happen): Volevo chiamarti, ma ho dimenticato.
- Ho voluto = I wanted to and I did it, often with insistence: Ho voluto farlo a tutti i costi.
- Non ho voluto = I refused: Non ho voluto parlare con lui.
- In everyday speech, volevo is by far the most common.
- Volevo… is also a soft, polite way to ask: Volevo un caffè, per favore.
| Volevo (imperfetto) | Ho voluto (passato prossimo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | a wish, an intention, a plan | a decision carried out, often with insistence |
| Did it happen? | not necessarily | yes |
| Example | Volevo cambiare lavoro. I wanted to change jobs. | Ho voluto cambiare lavoro. I chose to change jobs (and did). |
| Negative | Non volevo disturbarti. I didn’t mean to bother you. | Non ho voluto parlargli. I refused to talk to him. |
Volevo: I wanted to (but maybe I didn’t)
The imperfetto describes a wish, intention or state of mind in the past. It doesn’t tell us whether the action actually happened, and often it didn’t:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Volevo parlare con lui. | I wanted to talk to him. |
| Volevo cambiare lavoro. | I wanted to change jobs. |
| Volevo parlargli, ma non ho avuto il coraggio. | I wanted to talk to him, but I didn’t have the courage. |
| Non volevo disturbarti. | I didn’t mean to bother you. |
It’s natural, soft and very common: in everyday Italian, volevo is your go-to form for “I wanted.”
Ho voluto: I wanted to (and I did it)
The passato prossimo describes a decision that was carried out. It sounds stronger, because it emphasizes willpower, insistence or a deliberate choice:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Ho voluto farlo a tutti i costi. | I wanted to do it at all costs (and I did). |
| Ho voluto vedere con i miei occhi. | I insisted on seeing it with my own eyes. |
| Non ho voluto parlare con lui. | I refused to talk to him. |
Note: with verbs that take essere, you’ll also hear sono voluto andare. I explain it in ho voluto vs sono voluto.
Volevo as a polite request
Here’s a very Italian use: volevo often replaces vorrei (“I would like”) to ask for something politely, in a softer, more casual way. You’ll hear it all the time in shops, bars and restaurants:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Volevo un caffè, per favore. | I’d like a coffee, please. |
| Volevo sapere se avete un tavolo libero. | I wanted to ask if you have a free table. |
| Volevo chiedere un’informazione. | I’d like to ask something. |
Vorrei is perfectly correct too. Volevo just sounds a little more relaxed. What you should avoid is voglio, which can sound too direct.
Other verbs that change meaning
| Verb | Imperfetto | Passato prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| dovere | dovevo partire = I was supposed to leave | ho dovuto partire = I had to leave (and I did) |
| potere | potevo venire = I could have come | ho potuto venire = I was able to come (and I did) |
| conoscere | conoscevo Marco = I knew Marco | ho conosciuto Marco = I met Marco |
More in ho dovuto vs dovevo and verbs that change meaning in the past.
Exercise: volevo or ho voluto?
- ______ venire alla festa, ma ero troppo stanca.
- Buongiorno, ______ un chilo di pomodori.
- Mi hanno offerto un passaggio, ma non ______ accettare. (I refused)
- Da bambina ______ fare la veterinaria.
- Era difficile, ma ______ provare lo stesso. (and I did)
Show the answers
- Volevo
- volevo
- ho voluto
- volevo
- ho voluto
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between volevo and ho voluto?
Volevo expresses a wish or plan in the past that may not have happened (volevo chiamarti). Ho voluto means you wanted to and did it, often with insistence (ho voluto farlo a tutti i costi).
What does “non ho voluto” mean?
It means “I refused”: non ho voluto parlare con lui (I refused to talk to him). Non volevo means “I didn’t want to” or “I didn’t mean to.”
Can I say “volevo” to order in Italy?
Yes, it’s very common and polite: volevo un caffè, per favore. Vorrei is also correct.
Which verbs change meaning in the imperfetto and passato prossimo?
The most common are volere, dovere, potere and conoscere: conoscevo (I knew) vs ho conosciuto (I met).
Practice with my stories
In my stories, characters want, plan and change their minds all the time: the best way to feel the difference between volevo and ho voluto. Here are three to try:
Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze
Level B1+
Marie moves to Florence, where jewelry making leads to a new life.
