Wishing and Liking: želim, volim

Wishing and Liking

Level 1

Želim means I want or wish, and volim means I like or love. The thing you want or like goes after the verb in the accusative.

How It Works

Želim kafu and Volim kafu are two of the first sentences a learner needs. The verbs have almost the same endings.

željetivoljeti
jaželimvolim
tiželišvoliš
on, ona, onoželivoli
miželimovolimo
viželitevolite
oniželevole

The thing wanted or liked is the object. Feminine nouns in -a end in -u (muzika, muziku), and most masculine and neuter nouns stay as they are (hljeb, mlijeko). Plural objects usually end in -e for feminine nouns and for masculine nouns that name things (Volim ćevape), and in -a for neuter nouns (Volim sela).

You can also put another verb after them: Volim čitati (I like reading) and Želim spavati. For polite requests, htio bih comes later.

Examples (5)

  1. Želim kafu.

    I want a coffee.

    Kafa is feminine, so it becomes kafu.

  2. Volim muziku.

    I like music.

    Muzika changes to muziku after volim.

  3. Amir voli ćevape.

    Amir likes ćevapi.

    The plural object ends in -e.

  4. Da li želiš sok?

    Do you want juice?

    Želiš is the ti form, and sok stays the same.

  5. Emina i Selma vole pitu.

    Emina and Selma like pita.

    Vole is the plural form. Emina and Selma are two women, so the pronoun is one.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a feminine object in the dictionary form.

    Volim muzika.
    Volim muziku.

    A feminine noun in -a needs -u when it is the object.

  • Using the ja ending for everyone.

    Amir volim kafu.
    Amir voli kafu.

    The verb changes with the person who likes it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Wishing and Liking: želim, volimLevel 1Wishing and Liking

Learn This First

Želim and volim are everyday present-tense verbs.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

željetivoljeti