Etymology

From Middle High German wellen, from Old High German wellen, and thus originally the same word as וועלן ‎(veln, “to want”). The discrepant conjugations may be simple alternative forms grammaticalized in the pattern of the auxiliary. The Middle High German verb had -i- in the singular forms and -e- in the plural. Compare also in Middle High German the attested contraction witt for wilt (2nd person singular), and in later dialectal German willt for will (3rd person singular). However, a conflation with forms of ווערן ‎(vern, “to become”) seems very likely. Both verbs (wellen and werden) were used to form the future tense in late Middle High German.