preferir
“preferir” means “to prefer” in Spanish (choosing one thing over another).
to prefer
Also: would rather
📝 In Action
Yo prefiero el té verde.
A1I prefer green tea.
Ellos prefieren ir a la playa en lugar de ir a la montaña.
A2They prefer to go to the beach instead of going to the mountains.
Mi jefe prefirió que termináramos el informe hoy mismo.
B1My boss preferred that we finish the report today.
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Indicative
Present
Preterite
Imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preferir
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I prefer' in the present tense?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'praeferre', which literally means 'to carry (ferre) before or in front (prae)'. This suggests putting the thing you like ahead of everything else.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'preferir' always irregular?
Not always, but it changes its middle vowel in most present tense forms and a few past tense forms. It follows a predictable pattern once you learn it!
What is the difference between 'gustar más' and 'preferir'?
They mean the same thing functionally. However, 'gustar más' follows the rules of the verb 'gustar' (things please you), while 'preferir' is a standard verb where the person is the one doing the action (I prefer).
Can I use 'preferir' to say 'I'd rather'?
Yes! Just use the conditional form: 'preferiría'.