GENERAL INFO

Voulait is the imperfect tense of the verb vouloir (to want, to wish).

USAGE

It describes past habits, background desires, or ongoing wishes in the past.

"Il voulait partir." (He wanted to leave)

"Elle voulait un café." (She wanted a coffee)

"Quand il était jeune, il voulait devenir médecin." (When he was young, he wanted to become a doctor)

It is also often used in polite or indirect past speech:

"Il disait qu’il voulait venir." (He said he wanted to come)

TRAPS

Do not confuse voulait with:

*veut* (present: he wants)

*voudra* (future: he will want)

*voudrait* (conditional: he would like / polite form)

Be careful: the imperfect voulait expresses a background or repeated past desire, not a completed action.

"Il voulait partir" (he had the desire) vs "Il est parti" (he actually left)