desea
“desea” means “desires” in Spanish (He/She/It desires; You (formal) desire).
desires, wantsAlso: wishes
📝 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.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desea
Question 1 of 2
Which subject pronoun is NOT compatible with the verb form 'desea'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *desiderare*, meaning 'to long for' or 'to wish for,' traditionally associated with observing the stars (*sidera*) and longing for what is distant or absent.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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?'