preferiría
“preferiría” means “I would prefer” in Spanish (1st person singular).
I would prefer, He/She/You (formal) would prefer
Also: I'd rather, I should prefer
📝 In Action
Yo preferiría ir al cine en lugar de quedarme en casa.
B1I would prefer to go to the cinema instead of staying home.
¿Usted preferiría pagar en efectivo o con tarjeta?
B2Would you (formal) prefer to pay in cash or by card?
Ella dijo que preferiría vivir en un clima más cálido.
B2She said that she would prefer to live in a warmer climate.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preferiría
Question 1 of 1
Which English phrase best translates 'Yo preferiría un vaso de agua'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'preferir' comes from the Latin *praeferre*, meaning 'to carry before' or 'to set before.' This idea quickly evolved into choosing one thing over another, reflecting the prioritization of a choice.
First recorded: Medieval Latin
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'prefiero' and 'preferiría'?
'Prefiero' means 'I prefer' (a general preference or fact). 'Preferiría' means 'I would prefer' (a polite, hypothetical choice in a specific situation). Always use 'preferiría' when ordering food or making a formal request to sound more courteous.
Does 'preferiría' have the stem change (E to IE)?
No. The conditional form ('preferiría') is built directly from the infinitive *preferir* plus the conditional endings, so the E>IE stem change that happens in the present tense (e.g., *prefiero*) does not apply here.