The French phrase avoir envie de means “to want” or “to feel like.” It is common in everyday speech. You use it to express a wish, a need, or a longing for something.

Literal meaning

The word envie alone means “envy.” But in avoir envie de, the sense shifts. Literally, it breaks down as “to have a desire for.” That desire can be small or big. It can be physical or emotional.

Figurative meaning

Figuratively, avoir envie de covers any kind of wanting. It can mean a passing wish, a strong craving, or a deeper yearning. It is softer than vouloir (to want) in some cases, but not always.

Basic structure

You use it like this:

avoir envie de + noun (thing you want)
avoir envie de + verb (action you feel like doing)

The de changes to d’ before a vowel or silent h.

Usage examples

J’ai envie d’un café.
“I feel like a coffee.”

Tu as envie de sortir ce soir ?
“Do you feel like going out tonight?”

Elle a envie de dormir.
“She wants to sleep.”

Nous avons envie de vacances.
“We want a holiday.”

Ils ont envie de voir ce film.
“They feel like seeing that movie.”

Il a envie de rien.
“He doesn’t feel like anything.”

J’ai envie de toi.
“I want you.” (sexually or romantically)

Vous avez envie de changer de travail ?
“Do you want to change jobs?”

Pierre a envie de partir tôt.
“Pierre wants to leave early.”

Elle avait envie de pleurer.
“She felt like crying.”

Nous aurons envie de manger quelque chose de chaud.
“We will want to eat something hot.”

J’avais envie de te voir.
“I wanted to see you.”

Synonyms and alternatives

• vouloir – “to want.” More direct, less about feeling.
  Je veux un café. “I want a coffee.”
• désirer – “to desire.” Stronger, more formal, often romantic.
  Je désire te voir. “I desire to see you.”
• avoir besoin de – “to need.” Stronger than wanting.
  J’ai besoin d’aide. “I need help.”
• avoir hâte de – “to look forward to.” Expresses impatience.
  J’ai hâte de te voir. “I can’t wait to see you.”
• avoir le goût de (informal, Quebec French) – “to feel like.”
  J’ai le goût d’une bière. “I feel like a beer.”
• ça me dit (colloquial) – “I feel like it” (lit. “it says to me”).
  Sortir ce soir ? Ça me dit. “Go out tonight? I feel like it.”
• être partant pour (colloquial) – “to be up for.”
  Je suis partant pour un resto. “I’m up for a restaurant.”

Negative form

To say you don’t want something or don’t feel like doing something, put ne before the verb and pas after it.

Je n’ai pas envie de travailler.
“I don’t feel like working.”

Il n’a pas envie de rire.
“He doesn’t feel like laughing.”

Past and future

Past: avoir eu envie de (had wanted).
J’ai eu envie de partir, mais je suis resté.
“I wanted to leave, but I stayed.”

Future: aurai envie de (will want).
Tu auras envie de manger plus tard.
“You will feel like eating later.”

Summary

• Avoir envie de means “to feel like” or “to want.”
• Use it with a noun or an infinitive verb.
• De becomes d’ before a vowel.
• It is softer and more feeling-based than vouloir.
• Common in daily French, from small cravings to strong desires.