How to Say "they wish" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they wish” is “desean” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos desean unas vacaciones tranquilas en la playa.
They wish for a quiet vacation on the beach.
¿Qué proyectos desean comenzar ustedes este año?
What projects do you (formal plural) want to start this year?
Los científicos desean que el experimento tenga éxito.
The scientists hope that the experiment is successful.
The Special 'They' Form
The form 'desean' is used when the subject is 'they' (ellos/ellas) or the formal 'you plural' (ustedes). The 'an' ending is a common signal for this group in the present tense for -ar verbs.
Wishing for Others (Subjunctive Trigger)
When you wish for someone else to do something, the verb that follows must change form (the subjunctive). For example, 'Desean que tú vengas' (They wish that you come).
Mixing up 'desear' and 'querer'
Mistake: “Using 'desean' when the feeling is mild or immediate, like 'they want coffee now.'”
Correction: 'Desean' often carries a stronger sense of desire or a formal wish. For simple, immediate wants, use 'quieren' (from querer). 'Ellos quieren café' is more common than 'Ellos desean café.'
Related Translations
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