The French expression avoir envie de has different meanings, such as to feel like, to want or, in some cases, to need.
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.
J'ai envie de toi.
I want you. (Be careful: this would normally have amorous connotations!)
Julie a vraiment envie de chocolat.
Julie really wants/craves chocolate.
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 de becomes du / de la / de l' / des depending on the gender and number of the noun following it (e.g. of the).
To feel like [doing something] - To want/need [to do something]
J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes!
I want/need to go to the toilets!
On a envie de rester au lit ce matin.
We feel like staying in bed this morning.
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 Le Présent (present tense)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
J'ai envie de toi.
I want you. (Be careful: this would normally have amorous connotations!)
On a envie de rester au lit ce matin.
We feel like staying in bed this morning.
Julie a vraiment envie de chocolat.
Julie really wants/craves chocolate.
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.
Elle a envie de faire la cuisine.
She feels like cooking.
J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes!
I want/need to go to the toilets!
Q&A
Ron
Kwiziq community member
14/08/17
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
23/08/17
In the case of fixed expressions such as "avoir envie de", you're literally saying "I have envy of [something]".
Using du, de la, de l' or des would add the definite article (de + le, la, l', les) and would be used to be more specific = I have envy of the [thing] (that I mentionned previously).
I feel like chocolate.
J'ai envie du chocolat que tu m'avais offert pour mon anniversaire.
I feel like the chocolate you'd given me for my birthday.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
24/09/16
Susan
Kwiziq community member
25/09/16
Johanna
Kwiziq community member
3/01/19
But you used avoir envie de with need to go to the toilet. Why not j’ai besoin d’aller aux toilettes?
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
23/11/15
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
8/12/15
Katie
Kwiziq community member
15/05/19
Apart of this particular situation though, is 'veux' and 'envie' pretty much interchangeable when I want to express that I WANT something?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
20/05/19
Bonjour Katie!
In a general sense, I'd say that "veux" is "to want", whereas "avoir envie de" would be more like "I fancy", which in some cases can be close enough to be interchangeable indeed :)
Bonne journée !
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
19 July 2018
8 replies
J’ai envie d’une nouvelle voiture ...surely that can mean BOTH I want a new car & i need a new car. My car is 24 years old ...I NEED a new car...
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
19 July 2018
19/07/18
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
19 July 2018
19/07/18
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
20 July 2018
20/07/18
Hi Marnie,
'J'ai envie d'une nouvelle voiture' means, 'I feel like (having) a new car'. Here, it is a wish rather than a need.
If you car is 24 years old and you feel you are in need of a new car you will say. "J'ai besoin de changer ma voiture'" or something like "Il faut (absolument) que je change ma voiture." which is a bit stronger.
Hope this helps!
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
20 July 2018
20/07/18
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
21 July 2018
21/07/18
Hi Marnie,
I can understand your wish to remove avoir envie de to mean a 'need or want to go' as you find it confusing but it is one of the meanings of 'avoir envie de' which could be very useful to anyone finding him or herself in a French speaking hospital, for instance.
Avoir envie d'uriner/d'aller à la selle = To have an urge to urinate/defecate
conveys an express need for bodily functions.
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
21 July 2018
21/07/18
Marnie
Kwiziq community member
21 July 2018
21/07/18
Johanna
Kwiziq community member
3 January 2019
3/01/19
I had the same question