desea
deh-SEH-ah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella desea un café fuerte por la mañana.
A1She desires a strong coffee in the morning.
¿Usted desea algo de postre?
A1Do you (formal) want something for dessert?
El director desea revisar el informe antes de la reunión.
B1The director wishes to review the report before the meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
The Meaning of 'desea'
'Desea' is the present tense form used for 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' or the polite way to say 'you' (usted). It tells us what that person wants right now or habitually wants.
Connecting to Another Person's Action (Subjunctive)
If someone 'desea' that another person performs an action, the second verb must change to a special form (the subjunctive). For example: 'Ella desea que tú vayas a la fiesta' (She wants you to go to the party).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Indicative After 'Desea que'
Mistake: "Él desea que yo *termino* el trabajo."
Correction: Él desea que yo *termine* el trabajo. (When expressing desires about someone else, Spanish requires the subjunctive form: *termine*.)
⭐ Usage Tips
More Formal than Querer
'Desear' is generally a slightly more formal or emphatic way of saying 'to want' compared to the very common verb 'querer'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desea
Question 1 of 2
Which subject pronoun is NOT compatible with the verb form 'desea'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desea' stronger than 'quiere'?
Generally, yes. While both mean 'wants' or 'desires,' 'desea' carries a tone of a stronger wish or longing. In everyday conversation, 'quiere' (from querer) is more common for simple needs, while 'desea' often sounds a bit more formal.
How do I know if 'desea' means 'he,' 'she,' or 'you'?
You must figure it out from the context. If you hear 'El cliente desea...' then it means 'The client (he/she) desires.' If you are talking politely to a stranger and say '¿Desea ordenar?' it means 'Do you (usted) wish to order?'