preferido
“preferido” means “favorite” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
favorite, preferred
📝 In Action
El azul es mi color preferido.
A1Blue is my favorite color.
Mi comida preferida es la paella.
A2My preferred food is paella. (Note: 'comida' is feminine, so we use 'preferida'.)
Ellos son mis estudiantes preferidos.
B1They are my favorite students.
favorite, pet
Also: chosen one
📝 In Action
El director siempre le da los mejores proyectos a su preferido.
B1The director always gives the best projects to his favorite (his pet).
Ella es la preferida de la familia.
B2She is the family's favorite.
preferred
📝 In Action
Nunca he preferido el café al té.
A2I have never preferred coffee over tea.
Habíamos preferido quedarnos en casa.
B1We had preferred to stay home.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preferido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'preferido' as the adjective 'favorite'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *praeferre*, meaning 'to carry before' or 'to choose before others.' The idea of putting one thing ahead of another is the root of 'preferring.'
First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'preferido' and 'favorito'?
'Preferido' and 'favorito' are synonyms and usually interchangeable, especially when talking about things. 'Preferido' sometimes carries a slightly more formal feel, but both mean 'favorite' or 'most liked'.
Why does 'preferido' sometimes end in -a, -os, or -as?
When 'preferido' is acting as a descriptive word (an adjective), it must agree with the thing it describes. If you talk about 'las flores' (feminine plural), you must say 'las flores preferidas'.