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
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!
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.
Q&A
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
24/09/16
To express need, you'd only use avoir besoin de, which means "to need."
Avoir envie de means "to want."
Susan
Kwiziq community member
25/09/16
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
23/11/15
"Veux" is from "vouloir" which means "to want."
"Envie" is used in the expression "avoir envie" which means "to feel like."
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
8/12/15
You might have encountered the sentence "J'ai envie de toi" meaning "I want you" in a loving way in French. "Je te veux" in that context would be much less romantic!
alison
Kwiziq community member
13 August 2017
2 replies
Hi if de changes to du,de la des ... Why is it "J'ai envie de chocolat"
Ron
Kwiziq community member
14 August 2017
14/08/17
I think the answer lies in the fact that «avoir envie de» is a fixed expression. In reviewing the lesson, all of the phrases construct similarly regardless of what is desired be it a masculine or feminine noun.
Bonne chance.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
23 August 2017
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 !