prefiere
“prefiere” means “prefers” in Spanish (He/She/You (formal) prefers).
prefers, is preferring
Also: likes better
📝 In Action
Ella prefiere el café con leche.
A1She prefers coffee with milk.
¿Usted prefiere pagar en efectivo o con tarjeta?
A2Do you (formal) prefer to pay in cash or by card?
Mi hermano prefiere quedarse en casa que salir de fiesta.
B1My brother prefers staying home over going out to a party.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: prefiere
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'prefiere'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *praeferre*, which literally meant 'to carry before' or 'to place first,' combining *prae-* (before) and *ferre* (to carry). Over time, this evolved into the meaning of choosing or valuing something over others.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'prefiere' the same as 'gusta' (likes)?
Not exactly. While both express positive feelings, 'prefiere' implies a choice or comparison, meaning 'likes X *more* than Y,' or 'chooses X.' 'Gusta' simply means 'likes' without necessarily comparing.
How do I know when to use 'prefiere' versus 'prefieren'?
'Preferencia' is for a single person ('he,' 'she,' or 'you formal'). 'Prefieren' is for multiple people ('they' or 'you plural formal'). If the subject is singular (like 'my dog' or 'the boss'), use 'prefiere'.