No. 1,178 in Dutch
wou
"Wou" is the past tense of "wil" and means "wanted."
In a sentence
Ik wou graag een kopje koffie.
I would like a cup of coffee.
In this sentence, 'wou' is used in an informal or conversational context representing 'wilde' (would like).
Hij wou altijd avonturier worden.
He always wanted to become an adventurer.
Here, 'wou' expresses a past desire or aspiration, again as a substitute for 'wilde' in spoken Dutch.
Zij wou weten waar het feestje was.
She wanted to know where the party was.
In this usage, 'wou' indicates a state of curiosity or interest, synonymous with 'wilde' but employing a colloquial tone.
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