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]
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 I bought yesterday - 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',les - of the.
To feel like [doing something] - To want/need [to do something]
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)
Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Braimap today »
