A2 Modal Verbs 5 min read Easy

Modal 'a vrea'

Master a vrea plus the subjunctive să to clearly communicate your wants and plans in any Romanian setting.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The verb 'a vrea' expresses desire and is used to form the future tense in Romanian.

  • Use 'a vrea' to express what you want: 'Eu vreau o cafea.'
  • Follow 'a vrea' with a noun or an infinitive verb: 'Vreau să plec.'
  • It is irregular in the present tense, so memorize the forms carefully.
Subject + Vrea (conjugated) + (să + Verb / Noun)

Overview

Do you want to survive a day in Bucharest? You need a vrea. This is the Romanian verb for "to want." It is your primary tool for expressing desires. Think of it as your digital remote for life. You use it to order food. You use it to ask for favors. You even use it to share your big dreams. It is a modal verb. This means it usually works with another verb. It helps set the mood of the sentence. Without it, you are just stating facts. With it, you are expressing your inner will. It is friendly, direct, and very common. Let’s dive into how you can master it.

How This Grammar Works

In Romanian, a vrea behaves like a helper. Most of the time, you don't just say "I want." You say "I want to do" something. This is where the magic happens. You conjugate a vrea first. Then, you add the word să. Finally, you add the second verb. This să acts like a bridge. It connects your desire to the action. If you want an object, it's easier. You just put the noun right after the verb. For example, Vreau un ceai means "I want a tea." It is a very flexible verb. You will hear it in every conversation. Even native speakers use it hundreds of times daily. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It signals that an intention is coming your way.

Formation Pattern

1
Learning the conjugation is your first step. It has a few irregular spots. Do not worry; they are easy to remember.
2
Start with the subject pronoun (optional in Romanian).
3
Conjugate a vrea for the person.
4
Eu vreau (I want)
5
Tu vrei (You want)
6
El/Ea vrea (He/She wants)
7
Noi vrem (We want)
8
Voi vreți (You all want)
9
Ei/Ele vor (They want)
10
Add the particle să if an action follows.
11
Add the second verb in the subjunctive form.
12
Wait, did you see the third person plural? It is vor, not vreau. This is a classic trap for learners. It is like that one friend who always changes plans. Just remember: ei vor sounds like the English word "war."

When To Use It

Use a vrea whenever you feel a spark of desire.
  • Ordering food: Vreau o pizza, vă rog. This is simple and effective.
  • Asking directions: Vreau să ajung la muzeu. It shows your goal clearly.
  • Job interviews: Vreau să învăț lucruri noi. It shows your ambition and drive.
  • Making plans: Vrem să mergem la film diseară. It coordinates your group.
  • Expressing needs: Vreau să dorm. We have all been there after a long day.
It is perfect for informal settings. You can use it with friends or family. It is direct but not necessarily rude. However, in very formal places, you might switch it up. But for 90% of your life, a vrea is king.

When Not To Use It

Do not use a vrea to express the future tense. In English, we use "will" for the future. In Romanian, the future looks similar to a vrea. This causes a lot of confusion. Voi merge means "I will go." Vreau să merg means "I want to go." They are different moods entirely. Also, avoid using it when you want to be extremely polite. If you are talking to a judge or a CEO, it might sound a bit blunt. It is like wearing sneakers to a gala. It works, but it is not the best fit. Finally, don't use it for things that happen automatically. You don't "want" the sun to rise. It just does.

Common Mistakes

One big mistake is forgetting the să. You cannot say Vreau merg. That sounds like "I want go." You must say Vreau să merg. The să is the glue. Another mistake is the vor vs vrea mix-up. Many people say Ei vrea. This is wrong. It must be Ei vor. It is a small detail, but it makes you sound much better. Some learners also forget to change the second verb. In Vrei să vii?, both verbs are conjugated for tu. You cannot leave the second verb in the infinitive. It is like trying to ride two bikes at once. You need to balance both verbs to stay upright.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

You might hear a dori often. This also means "to want." However, a dori is much more formal. Think of a vrea as a t-shirt. Think of a dori as a tuxedo. You use a dori in fancy restaurants. You use it when writing formal emails. There is also a arde. This is slang. Mă arde să... means "I am dying to..." It is very passionate. Stick to a vrea for your daily needs. It is the middle ground. It is safe, common, and always correct. It is the "vanilla ice cream" of Romanian verbs. Everyone likes it and it goes with everything.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I use a vrea for "I would like"?

Use the conditional form aș vrea for that.

Q

Is it okay to use vreau with older people?

It is better to use aș vrea or doresc for respect.

Q

Do I always need să?

Only if a verb follows. Nouns don't need it.

Q

Is vor always "they want"?

Yes, in the present tense. It never changes.

Q

Can I skip the Eu or Tu?

Yes! Romanian verbs usually tell you who is speaking.

Present Tense of 'a vrea'

Person Singular Plural
1st (Eu/Noi)
Vreau
Vrem
2nd (Tu/Voi)
Vrei
Vreți
3rd (El/Ei)
Vrea
Vor

Meanings

The verb 'a vrea' is the primary way to express desire, intent, or willingness in Romanian.

1

Desire/Want

Expressing a wish or desire for an object or action.

“Vreau un măr.”

“Vrei să mergem la film?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Modal 'a vrea'
Pronoun Vrea Form With Verb (Subjunctive) English Translation
Eu
Vreau
Vreau să dorm
I want to sleep
Tu
Vrei
Vrei să bei?
Do you want to drink?
El/Ea
Vrea
Vrea să plece
He/She wants to leave
Noi
Vrem
Vrem să mâncăm
We want to eat
Voi
Vreți
Vreți să vedeți?
Do you all want to see?
Ei/Ele
Vor
Vor să vină
They want to come

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Aș dori o cafea.

Aș dori o cafea. (Ordering in a cafe)

Neutral
Vreau o cafea.

Vreau o cafea. (Ordering in a cafe)

Informal
Vreau o cafea.

Vreau o cafea. (Ordering in a cafe)

Slang
Bagă o cafea.

Bagă o cafea. (Ordering in a cafe)

The World of Wants

A Vrea

Objects

  • Vreau apă I want water
  • Vreau bani I want money

Actions

  • Vreau să fug I want to run
  • Vreau să cânt I want to sing

Direct vs. Polite

Direct (A Vrea)
Vreau o cafea I want a coffee
Vrei să pleci? Do you want to leave?
Polite (A Dori)
Doresc o cafea I wish for a coffee
Doriți să plecați? Do you wish to leave?

Building Your Sentence

1

Is it a noun?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Vrea' + Noun
2

Is it a verb?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Vrea' + să + Verb

Common Usage Scenarios

🍕

Restaurant

  • • Vreau nota
  • • Vreau meniul
✈️

Future Plans

  • • Vrem să călătorim
  • • Vrea să învețe
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Eu vreau apă.

I want water.

2

Vrei un măr?

Do you want an apple?

3

Ei vor pizza.

They want pizza.

4

Nu vreau asta.

I don't want this.

1

Vreau să merg acasă.

I want to go home.

2

Vrei să ieșim diseară?

Do you want to go out tonight?

3

Ea vrea să învețe română.

She wants to learn Romanian.

4

Noi vrem să călătorim.

We want to travel.

1

Aș vrea să vă întreb ceva.

I would like to ask you something.

2

Nu vor să accepte oferta.

They don't want to accept the offer.

3

Vrei să te ajut cu bagajele?

Do you want me to help you with the luggage?

4

Vrem să știm adevărul.

We want to know the truth.

1

Oricine vrea să reușească trebuie să muncească.

Whoever wants to succeed must work.

2

Nu aș vrea să par nepoliticos.

I wouldn't want to seem impolite.

3

Ei vor să fie tratați cu respect.

They want to be treated with respect.

4

Vrei nu vrei, trebuie să mergi.

Whether you want to or not, you must go.

1

Nu-mi vine să cred că vrei să pleci.

I can't believe you want to leave.

2

Ar fi vrut să fi fost acolo.

He would have liked to have been there.

3

Cine vrea să înțeleagă, înțelege.

Whoever wants to understand, understands.

4

Nu se știe ce vor acești oameni.

It is unknown what these people want.

1

De-ai vrea să mă asculți, ai înțelege.

If you would only listen to me, you would understand.

2

Nici nu vrei să știi ce s-a întâmplat.

You don't even want to know what happened.

3

Vrea să pară mai deștept decât este.

He wants to seem smarter than he is.

4

Oricât ar vrea, nu poate schimba trecutul.

No matter how much he wants to, he cannot change the past.

Easily Confused

Modal 'a vrea' vs A vrea vs A dori

Both mean 'to want', but 'a dori' is formal.

Modal 'a vrea' vs Vreau vs Voi

Voi is the future auxiliary, Vreau is the verb 'to want'.

Modal 'a vrea' vs Să vs Infinitive

Learners often drop 'să'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Vreau plec

✓

Vreau să plec

Missing the 'să' particle.
✗

Eu vrea

✓

Eu vreau

Wrong conjugation.
✗

Vrei tu?

✓

Vrei?

Subject pronoun is usually dropped.
✗

Vreau un măr să mănânc

✓

Vreau să mănânc un măr

Word order.
✗

Vrem să plecăm

✓

Vrem să plecăm

Correct, but watch for 'vreți' vs 'vrem'.
✗

Nu vrea să nu merg

✓

Nu vrea să merg

Double negative logic.
✗

Vreau că tu mergi

✓

Vreau să mergi

Subjunctive is required.
✗

Vreau să aș dori

✓

Aș dori

Redundant modal usage.
✗

Ei vor să merg

✓

Ei vor să merg

Correct, but check agreement.
✗

Voi vrea să merg

✓

Vreau să merg

Using future instead of present.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ să ___.

Tu ___ să ___?

Aș ___ să ___.

Ei ___ să ___.

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Vreau o pizza.

Making plans very common

Vrei să ieșim?

Job interview common

Aș dori să aflu mai multe.

Travel common

Vreau să cumpăr un bilet.

Texting constant

Vrei diseară?

Shopping common

Vreau să probez asta.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The 'Să' Bridge

Always imagine a bridge between 'vrea' and the next action. That bridge is 'să'. No bridge, no sentence!
⚠️

The 'Vor' Trap

Don't say 'Ei vrea'. It's the most common mistake. 'Vor' is the special plural form you need to memorize.
🎯

Drop the Pronoun

You don't need to say 'Eu vreau'. Just 'Vreau' is enough. It makes you sound like a local!
💬

Politeness Matters

In a bakery, 'Vreau' is fine. In a job interview, use 'Aș vrea' (I would like) to sound more professional.

Smart Tips

Use 'Aș dori' instead of 'Vreau' to sound like a local.

Vreau o apă. → Aș dori o apă, vă rog.

Use 'Vrei să...' for invitations.

Vrei film? → Vrei să mergem la film?

Use 'Chiar vreau' for emphasis.

Vreau asta. → Chiar vreau asta.

Remember 'vreți' for 'you all'.

Vrei voi să veniți? → Vreți să veniți?

Pronunciation

v-r-y-au

Vreau

The 'ea' is a diphthong, pronounced like 'ya'.

Question

Vrei să vii? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Vreau, vrei, vrea – the 'V' sound leads the way to what you want today!

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'V' shaped magnet pulling things you want toward you. Every time you say 'Vreau', you are pulling an object into your hands.

Rhyme

Vreau, vrei, vrea, we want it all, vrem, vreți, vor, we stand tall.

Story

I walk into a cafe. I say 'Vreau o cafea'. The barista asks 'Vrei zahăr?'. I say 'Nu, mulțumesc'. We both want a good day.

Word Web

VreauVreiVreaVremVrețiVorSăDori

Challenge

Write down 5 things you want to do today using 'Vreau să...'.

Cultural Notes

Using 'vreau' is direct. In shops, 'aș dori' is much more polite.

People might use 'aș vrea' more frequently in daily speech.

Often shortened in text messages.

Comes from the Latin 'volere'.

Conversation Starters

“

Ce vrei să faci azi?

“

Vrei să mergem la film?

“

Ce ai vrea să schimbi la jobul tău?

“

Dacă ai putea, ce ai vrea să vizitezi?

Journal Prompts

Scrie 3 lucruri pe care vrei să le faci în weekend.
Ce vrei să înveți anul acesta?
Dacă ai fi milionar, ce ai vrea să cumperi?
Descrie o dorință pe care o ai pentru viitorul tău.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Choose the correct form of 'a vrea' for the third person plural.

Ei ___ să cumpere o mașină nouă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vor
The third person plural (they) for 'a vrea' is 'vor'.
Complete the sentence with the necessary connecting particle.

Noi vrem ___ vizităm Castelul Bran.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să
In Romanian, 'a vrea' requires the particle 'să' before the following verb.
Select the correct conjugation for 'you' (singular).

Tu ___ o înghețată de ciocolată?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vrei
'Vrei' is the second person singular form used with 'tu'.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ o cafea.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vreau
First person singular.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Tu ___ să pleci.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vrei
Second person singular.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vreau plec acasă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vreau să plec acasă
Need 'să'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

să / vreau / merg / acasă

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vreau să merg acasă
Correct word order.
Translate to Romanian. Translation

They want to eat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ei vor să mănânce
Correct conjugation and particle.
Match the person to the verb. Match Pairs

Noi...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vrem
First person plural.
Polite request. Multiple Choice

___ să vă întreb ceva.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aș vrea
Polite form.
Fill in the blank.

Ei ___ să plece.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vor
Third person plural.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

It can be direct. Use 'aș dori' for politeness.

It marks the subjunctive mood required after modal verbs.

Just add 'nu' before the verb: 'Nu vreau'.

No, use the future auxiliary 'voi'.

'Vreau' is direct, 'aș vrea' is conditional/polite.

No, 'vrea' is 3rd person singular, 'vrem' is 1st person plural.

Yes, 'Vreau o cafea'.

It's an irregular conjugation.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

querer

Romanian requires the subjunctive particle 'să'.

French high

vouloir

Romanian uses 'să' + subjunctive.

German moderate

wollen

Romanian is a Romance language, German is Germanic.

Japanese low

hoshii / -tai

Romanian uses a separate verb.

Arabic moderate

uridu

Arabic conjugation is entirely different.

Chinese low

yào / xiǎng

Romanian conjugates for person.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Modal 'a trebui'
Next
Modal + Infinitive

Related Grammar Rules

A2

Modal 'a trebui'

Overview You are about to meet the most hardworking verb in the Romanian language. If you want to express necessity, ob...
A2

Modal + Infinitive

Overview Ever felt like you need to express what you *can* do, what you *want* to do, or what you *must* do? In Romania...
A2

Modal 'a putea'

Overview Welcome to the most useful verb in your Romanian toolkit. It is the key to expressing your potential. If you wa...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!