Avoir envie de = To feel like, want to (French Expressions with avoir)

The French expression avoir envie de has different meanings, such as to feel like, to want or, in some very specific cases, to need.

How to use 'avoir envie de' in French

To feel like / want [something]

Il fait chaud et j'ai envie d'une glace.It's hot and I feel like an ice cream.  
It's hot and I'd like/want an ice cream.

Tout le monde a envie d'amour.Everybody wants love.

Julie vraiment envie de chocolat.Julie really wants/craves chocolate.

J'ai envie de toi.I want you. (Be careful: this would normally have amorous connotations!)

To feel like / want in French, you can use the expression avoir envie de [quelque chose] (literally to have desire/want of [something]).

Note that when the object is specific - i.e. I want the chocolate that I keep in my cupboard de becomes du / de la / de l' / des depending on the gender and number of the noun following it, as it contracts de + le,la,l',lesof the.

J'ai envie du chocolat que je garde dans mon placard.I want the chocolate that I keep in my cupboard.

Elle a envie de la viande de chez le boucher.She fancies/wants the meat from the butcher's.

 

To feel like [doing something] / To want [to do something]

J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes !I need to go to the toilets!

On a envie de rester au lit ce matin.We feel like staying in bed this morning.

Elle a envie de faire la cuisine.She feels like cooking.

To express to feel like [doing something] / to want or to need [to do something], you will use: 

avoir envie de / d' + [infinitive of the verb]

See also the verb vouloir (to want): Conjugate vouloir in the present tense in French (Le Présent) 


Special cases when avoir envie de is used to express need

There are some fixed expressions in French where we colloquially use avoir envie de where English speakers would refer to a need:

J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes !I need to go to the toilets!

Aline a envie de vomir.Aline feels nauseous.
Aline feels like throwing up.

 

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Julie vraiment envie de chocolat.Julie really wants/craves chocolate.
J'ai envie de toi.I want you. (Be careful: this would normally have amorous connotations!)
Elle a envie de la viande de chez le boucher.She fancies/wants the meat from the butcher's.
Tout le monde a envie d'amour.Everybody wants love.
Elle a envie de faire la cuisine.She feels like cooking.
Il fait chaud et j'ai envie d'une glace.It's hot and I feel like an ice cream.  
It's hot and I'd like/want an ice cream.
J'ai vraiment envie d'aller nager aujourd'hui.I really feel like going swimming today.
J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes !I need to go to the toilets!
Aline a envie de vomir.Aline feels nauseous.
Aline feels like throwing up.
J'ai envie du chocolat que je garde dans mon placard.I want the chocolate that I keep in my cupboard.
On a envie de rester au lit ce matin.We feel like staying in bed this morning.
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