A storybook illustration showing a child with their eyes closed and hands clasped together in front of their chest, concentrating on making a wish.

desee

deh-SEH-eh

Verb (Conjugation)B1regular ar

wish?as in 'that I may wish' or 'that you (formal) wish',desire?as in 'that he/she may desire'

Also:want?less formal equivalent

Quick Reference

infinitivedesear

gerunddeseando

past Participledeseado

📝 In Action

No creo que usted desee ir solo a esa reunión.

I don't believe that you (formal) wish to go to that meeting alone.

Ojalá que yo desee lo mismo que tú.

I hope that I desire the same thing as you.

Desee un buen viaje a todos sus invitados.

Wish all your guests a good trip. (Formal command)

Word Connections

Synonyms

quiera (want)
anhele (long for)

Antonyms

rechace (reject)

Common Collocations

que lo desee – that he/she wishes it
si usted lo desee – if you (formal) wish it

💡 Grammar Points

The Subjunctive Mood

This form ('desee') is part of a special verb system used to talk about things that are not facts, like hopes, doubts, emotions, or requests. It is often triggered by verbs of wishing (like espero que).

Two Roles for 'Desee'

'Desee' can mean 'that I wish' (yo) or 'that he/she/you formal wish' (él/ella/usted) in a sentence describing a wish. It is also the formal command for 'Wish!'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Indicative for Wishes

Mistake: "Espero que ella desea venir."

Correction: Espero que ella desee venir. (When the wishing verb and the desired action have different subjects, you must use the special verb form.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Commands

Use 'Desee' (the formal imperative) when giving a polite instruction or wish to someone you address as usted. Example: 'Desee un buen día.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: desee

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'desee' as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

desear(to wish, to desire) - verb

deseo(wish, desire) - noun

deseable(desirable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'desee' means 'I wish' or 'he/she/usted wishes'?

You need to look at the beginning of the sentence. If the main verb is followed by 'que yo,' it means 'I wish.' If it's followed by 'que él,' 'que ella,' or 'que usted,' it refers to that person. If it stands alone at the start of a sentence, it's usually a formal command ('Usted' command).