Spanish word

desear

Pronunciation

IPA/deseˈaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwant

Example

Ella desea viajar al extranjero el próximo año.

She wants to travel abroad next year.

Illustration for desear (want)

More examples

Ella desea viajar a Japón el próximo año.

She wants to travel to Japan next year.

Le deseo una pronta recuperación.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Core concept

A wish planted like a seed that quietly grows.

Common phrases

  • desear algo

    want something

  • desear ver a alguien

    want to see someone

Similar words

querer: Feels a strong, immediate desire to have or do something.
esperar: Hopes that a desired future event will actually happen.
pedir: Requests something from someone, asking them to give or do it.
preferir: Prefers one option when choosing among two or more alternatives.

Definition in Spanish

Significa tener el deseo de obtener, conseguir o experimentar algo, usado tanto para expresar anhelos propios como para transmitir buenos deseos a otras personas.

Word origin

It comes from Latin desiderare 'to long for', carried into Spanish through the Romance languages.

Usage tips

  • The verb appears both in polite offers (¿Desea...? in shops or services) and in personal wishes (Te deseo mucha suerte), and when followed by que it normally takes the subjunctive.

Other meanings

  • wishverb

Related words

  • deseodesirenoun
  • deseadodesiredadjective

Word lists with this word