preferible
“preferible” means “preferable” in Spanish (when one option is better than another).
preferable, better
Also: more desirable
📝 In Action
Es preferible llegar diez minutos antes.
A2It is better to arrive ten minutes early.
Sería preferible que nos reuniéramos mañana.
B1It would be preferable if we met tomorrow.
En este clima, es preferible llevar ropa de algodón.
B2In this climate, it's preferable to wear cotton clothing.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preferible
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'It's preferable that you eat now'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'praeferibilis,' which comes from 'prae' (before) and 'ferre' (to carry). It literally means 'to carry before' or 'to place before' something else.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'preferible' and 'preferido'?
'Preferible' means 'it would be better if' (an objective choice), while 'preferido' means 'favorite' (your personal emotional choice). For example, 'El azul es mi color preferido' (Blue is my favorite color) vs. 'Es preferible usar azul para la entrevista' (It is better/preferable to wear blue for the interview).
Can I use 'preferible' to describe a person?
Technically yes, but it sounds a bit cold. It is usually used for choices, situations, or things rather than calling a person 'preferable.'
Is 'mejor' the same as 'preferible'?
They are very close! 'Mejor' simply means 'better.' 'Preferible' is slightly more formal and often implies that one thing is more 'worthy' of being chosen over another.