Use of Vouloir v/s Envie de

I am getting confused between the use of Envie de and Vouloir, what reason/logic should be applied when it comes to using Envie de or Vouloir.

Please find two examples below where I could translate using both:

1. Do you wish to go home? I do.

Avez-vous envie d'aller à la maison?
J'ai envie d'y aller.
Ou
Voulez-vous aller à la maison?
Je veux y aller.

2. Do your children wish to come with me? They do not.
Vos enfants ont-ils envie de venir avec moi ?
Ils n’ont pas envie d’aller avec vous.

Vos enfants veulent-ils y venir avec moi ?

Ils ne veulent pas y venir.

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EducatorPermalink Reply by George Hunt on October 7, 2015 at 1:14pm

I think the two uses are close enough that , in most common examples(including those you gave) you can use whichever you are comfortable with.

"vouloir" is one word whereas "avoir envie" is two words -so that is a difference but I wouldn't make too much of it (my opinion).

I am sure there are cases where one is preferable to another:

For example "qu'est-ce que tu veux?" as an expression of mild exasperation cannot be expressed as "de quoi tu as envie?"