desean
“desean” means “they wish” in Spanish (ellos/ellas).
they wish, they want
Also: you want, they desire
📝 In Action
Ellos desean unas vacaciones tranquilas en la playa.
A1They wish for a quiet vacation on the beach.
¿Qué proyectos desean comenzar ustedes este año?
A2What projects do you (formal plural) want to start this year?
Los científicos desean que el experimento tenga éxito.
B1The scientists hope that the experiment is successful.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desean
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'desean'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'desear' comes from the Latin verb *desiderare*, meaning 'to long for' or 'to wish for.' It originally related to observing the stars (*sidera*) and longing for something not present.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'desean' and 'quieren'?
Both mean 'they want,' but 'desean' (from desear) is often used for deeper, more significant wishes, hopes, or desires, and sounds slightly more formal or intense. 'Quieren' (from querer) is used for almost all general, everyday wants (e.g., 'They want water').
Is 'desean' an irregular verb?
No, 'desean' comes from the verb 'desear,' which is a completely regular -ar verb. Its conjugations follow the standard patterns, making it easy to learn.