volere bene
Italian
Alternative forms
- voler bene
Etymology
Literally, “to wish well”.
Verb
volére bene (first-person singular present vòglio bene, first-person singular past historic vòlli bene, past participle volùto bene, first-person singular future vorrò bene, second-person singular imperative vògli bene, auxiliary avére)
- (intransitive) to be affectionate to someone, to feel affection or love for someone; to care for/about; to be fond of
- ti voglio bene ― I love you
- voglio bene a Marco ― I love Marco
Usage notes
- volere bene is an expression of non-romantic affection toward a friend, family member or other loved one. Romantic love is usually expressed with amare. In Naples and surrounding areas influenced by Neapolitan dialect, volere bene may carry a romantic connotation and amare a more platonic one.
Related terms
- ti voglio bene
- TVB, TVTB