Breakdown of Ik wil wel water.
het water
the water
willen
to want
wel
indeed, surely (contrastive particle)
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Questions & Answers about Ik wil wel water.
What does "wel" mean in this sentence?
The word wel is very common in Dutch and is often used as the exact opposite of niet (not). Here, it adds emphasis to show that you actually do want something, much like saying "I do want water" in English. You would typically say this if someone assumed you did not want a drink.
Why isn't there a "t" at the end of "wil"?
The verb here is willen (to want). In Dutch, the ik (I) form of a verb never gets a "t" at the end. You simply use the base stem of the verb, which is wil.
Why is there no word for "some" before "water"?
Can I use "wel" with other verbs to mean "do"?
Yes! You can use wel before other words to contradict a negative statement or assumption. For example, if someone says you do not speak Dutch, you can reply with Ik spreek wel Nederlands to confidently mean "I do speak Dutch".