Saluton!
Can someone please help explain to me the difference between "deziri" and "voli" and their appropriate uses?

Dankon!

Frakseno:Can someone please help explain to me the difference between "deziri" and "voli" and their appropriate uses?

I will check the PIV when I come home, anyway: deziri < voli < pretendi.

I think "deziri" is close to the English "to desire", "to wish" (with regard to wish-lists and such). I've seen it used, mostly in songs and poetry, in the context of daydreaming. For that meaning there's also "sopiri" ("to long for").

Frakseno:Saluton!
Can someone please help explain to me the difference between "deziri" and "voli" and their appropriate uses?

Dankon!

That's my understanding as well. Deziri would be "to desire" and voli "to want". Also voli has the same root as will (the noun will). The word bonvolu (please) literally means "have the good will to ....." You would never say bondeziru. It's not the same thing to have the will to do something that to desire to do it, isn't it?

I agree that in many cases you could use either voli or deziri, but I also agree that deziri is more poetic

edmoreira:That's my understanding as well. Deziri would be "to desire" and voli "to want"

Be careful though that "to want" in English has a distinct meaning, at least distinct for me, that is, "to need"/"to be better off with". This of course has no place in "voli". You aren't going to say, for example, "vi volos la aŭtoŝoseon I-45", unless you are planning to buy it

You would never say bondeziru

Actually you would, but not in that form. "Mi sendas al vi miajn bondezirojn" means roughly "I send you my [~best] wishes".

mnlg:
Be careful though that "to want" in English has a distinct meaning, at least distinct for me, that is, "to need"/"to be better off with". This of course has no place in "voli". You aren't going to say, for example, "vi volos la aŭtoŝoseon I-45", unless you are planning to buy it

You are totally right, I was aware of that, and meant the other meaning of "to want" hehehe

Actually you would, but not in that form. "Mi sendas al vi miajn bondezirojn" means roughly "I send you my [~best] wishes".

Sure, but it means something totally different, you used the noun "bondeziro" but you would not ask somebody bondeziru (the imperative form of the verb). That was my point to exemplify the semantic difference between voli kaj derizis.

edmoreira:Sure, but it means something totally different, you used the noun "bondeziru" but you would not ask somebody bondeziru (the imperative form of the verb). That was my point to exemplify the semantic difference between voli kaj derizis.

Oh, I think there are situations when it could be meaningful. For example, if I'm one of the guys on "The Dating Game", I might say to the gorgeous girl "Ne elektu ilin! Bondeziru MIN!"

RiotNrrd:

edmoreira:Sure, but it means something totally different, you used the noun "bondeziro" but you would not ask somebody bondeziru (the imperative form of the verb). That was my point to exemplify the semantic difference between voli kaj derizis.

Oh, I think there are situations when it could be meaningful. For example, if I'm one of the guys on "The Dating Game", I might say to the gorgeous girl "Ne elektu ilin! Bondeziru MIN!"

HEHEHEHE SURE in that case!

Frakseno:Saluton!
Can someone please help explain to me the difference between "deziri" and "voli" and their appropriate uses?

Dnull
ankon!

"Deziri" is used for material things that one wants. "Voli" is used for actions or non-material things one wants, though this is not a rule, just the usual use.

For example: Oni "deziras" pomon. Oni "volas" iri.

in my opinion
'deziri' is subjective desire
'voli' is more like a modal verb,which state a situation or a will objective

for example,
1. mi deziras mangxi la pomon.
i want to eat the apple( for it's really delicious)
2. mi volas iri al kompanio
i have to/will go to my company (it's work time)

placido:in my opinion
'deziri' is subjective desire
'voli' is more like a modal verb,which state a situation or a will objective

for example,
1. mi deziras mangxi la pomon.
i want to eat the apple( for it's really delicious)
2. mi volas iri al kompanio
i have to/will go to my company (it's work time)

Placido, according to the English translation you provide, wouldn't it be more appropriate to say, Mi devas iri al kompanio?
At least for the "have to" part? While I can see the use of volas for the "will" part.

Are you (and others) saying that the difference is more of a desire vs. will issue? With "will" (as in the will to do something) implicitly somewhat stronger or more directed than 'simple' desire?

When I hear "voli," it brings to mind for me the root of the English word Volition, which is definitely stronger than Desire (semantically if not necessarily practically ).