željeti → želim

Present of Željeti

Level 1

Željeti has the common present želim, želiš, želi, želimo, želite and žele. It can take a thing that is wanted or an infinitive naming an activity.

How It Works

Although the infinitive contains -jeti, the present belongs to the i-series: želim, not a form built by retaining the whole infinitive. Third-person plural is žele.

For one subject, an infinitive is a clear standard frame: Želim putovati. The desired activity is not conjugated again for person. The finite želim supplies the subject information.

A present wish can sound direct. Politeness also depends on context and intonation; a conditional such as željela bih can soften a request. Do not claim that replacing htjeti with željeti automatically makes every demand polite.

Examples (4)

  1. Želim učiti hrvatski.

    I want to learn Croatian.

    The infinitive names the desired activity.

  2. Želite li kavu?

    Would you like coffee?

    Želite addresses someone respectfully or several people.

  3. Oni žele putovati.

    They want to travel.

    Žele is third-person plural.

  4. Ne želim kasniti.

    I do not want to be late.

    The negation is attached to the desire, not directly to a future auxiliary.

How It Connects

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

željeti → želimLevel 1Present of Željeti

Learn This First

These useful verbs instantiate the -im present endings.

Words in This Pattern

željeti