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Italian Phrase

Voglio essere un leader.

/ˈvɔʎʎo esˈse.re un ˈleː.der/
Meaning"I want to be a leader."
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Meaning

‘Voglio essere un leader’ means ‘I want to be a leader.’ It expresses a personal ambition or career goal, indicating that the speaker aspires to take on a leading role.

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When to use

Use this sentence when talking about your professional aspirations, discussing personal development, or explaining why you are taking on extra responsibilities at work or in a group.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Voglioessereunleader

1

Voglio (volere)

‘Voglio’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘volere’, meaning ‘I want’. It is used to express a desire or intention.

2

Essere (infinitive)

‘Essere’ is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to be’. After ‘volere’, the infinitive follows directly.

3

Un (indefinite article)

‘Un’ is the masculine singular indefinite article, used before a noun that begins with a consonant or a vowel sound.

4

Leader (loanword noun)

‘Leader’ is an English loanword that has been fully naturalised in Italian. It is masculine singular and behaves like a regular noun.

🗨In Conversation

A

Voglio essere un leader.

I want to be a leader.

Allora inizia a prendere iniziative e a guidare il team.

Then start taking initiatives and leading the team.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Sono un leader.

    ‘Sono un leader’ means ‘I am a leader’, not ‘I want to be a leader’. Use ‘voglio’ to express desire.

  • Voglio essere leader.

    Missing the indefinite article changes the phrase to sound incomplete. Italian requires ‘un’ before a singular masculine noun.

  • Voglio essere il leader.

    ‘Il leader’ refers to a specific, already‑identified leader. Use ‘un leader’ when speaking about the role in general.

↔Alternatives

  • Desidero diventare un leader.

    I desire to become a leader.

  • Mi piacerebbe essere un leader.

    I would like to be a leader.

  • Vorrei essere il capo.

    I would like to be the boss.

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy, the word ‘leader’ is common in business, sport and political contexts and sounds modern and international. In more traditional settings you might hear ‘capo’, ‘dirigente’ or ‘responsabile’. Using ‘leader’ signals a contemporary, often English‑influenced, mindset.