anhelar
“anhelar” means “to long for” in Spanish (intense desire for something or someone).
to long for
Also: to yearn, to crave
📝 In Action
Anhelo volver a ver mi tierra algún día.
B1I long to see my homeland again one day.
Ella siempre ha anhelado una vida más tranquila.
B1She has always yearned for a quieter life.
Los ciudadanos anhelan la llegada de la paz.
B2The citizens crave the arrival of peace.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: anhelar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'I long for freedom'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'anhelare', which meant 'to breathe with difficulty' or 'to pant'. This connects to the physical feeling of wanting something so intensely that it takes your breath away.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'anhelar' common in everyday talk?
It's a bit more formal and poetic than 'querer'. You might use it when talking about big life dreams, but you wouldn't usually use it to say you want a pizza for dinner.
Does 'anhelar' ever change its stem when conjugated?
No, it is a completely regular -ar verb. It follows the same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar'.
What is the difference between 'anhelar' and 'desear'?
'Desear' is a general word for 'to want' or 'to wish'. 'Anhelar' is much more intense, often implying a deep emotional longing or something that feels far away.