How to Say To Prefer in Spanish | MostUsedWords.com

As of 2026, enhancing your Spanish vocabulary is easier than ever. In this article, we will explore how to use preferir, delve into its meaning and usage across different tenses, and provide you with useful examples in various contexts.

What is "To Prefer" in Spanish?

The Spanish equivalent of "to prefer" is preferir (IPA: /pɾe.feˈɾiɾ/). This verb allows you to express a personal inclination or choice for one thing over another.

Meaning and Usage

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When using "preferir," it conveys the idea of having a stronger liking or favoring towards one option or choice when compared to others. It is a versatile verb that allows you to express your preferences in different contexts, such as food, activities, or people.

The noun, adverb, and adjective forms of to prefer (preferences, preferably, preferred) are analyzed in another MostUsedWords.com blog post.

How to Use 'Preferir' in Spanish: Conjugations and Examples

Conjugation of Preferir in Different Tenses

The verb "preferir" is conjugated as follows:

• Present tense:
  • Yo prefiero.
  • Tú prefieres.
  • Él/Ella/usted prefiere.
  • Nosotros/nosotras preferimos.
  • Vosotros/vosotras preferís.
  • Ellos/ellas/ustedes prefieren.
• Past tense:
  • Yo preferí.
  • Tú preferiste.
  • Él/Ella/usted prefirió.
  • Nosotros/nosotras preferimos.
  • Vosotros/vosotras preferisteis.
  • Ellos/ellas/ustedes prefirieron.
• Futuro simple:
  • Yo preferiré.
  • Tú preferirás.
  • Él/Ella/usted preferirá.
  • Nosotros/nosotras preferiremos.
  • Vosotros/vosotras preferiréis.
  • Ellos/ellas/ustedes preferirán.
• Conditional:
  • Yo preferiría.
  • Tú preferirías.
  • Él/Ella/usted preferiría.
  • Nosotros/nosotras preferiríamos.
  • Vosotros/vosotras preferiríais.
  • Ellos/ellas/ustedes preferirían.
• Imperative:
  • Prefiere (tú).
  • Prefiera (él, ella, usted).
  • Prefiramos (nosotros/nosotras).
  • Prefiráis (vosotros/vosotras).
  • Prefieran (ellos/ellas, ustedes).

Examples of Preferir with Indirect Objects

• Le prefiero la pizza a la pasta. (I prefer giving him/her pizza over pasta.)
• Ella prefiere el café caliente a su madre. (She prefers to give hot coffee to her mother.)

Common Phrases Using 'Preferir'

• No tengo preferencia. (I don't have a preference.)
• Tengo una preferencia por... (I have a preference for...)
• Prefiero no hacerlo. (I prefer not to do it.)
• No prefiero eso. (I don't prefer that.)

How to Say "To Prefer" in Spanish: Sample Sentences

• Prefiero la pizza a la pasta. (I prefer pizza over pasta.)
• Ella prefiere el café caliente. (She prefers hot coffee.)
• ¿Prefieres el azul o el rojo? (Do you prefer blue or red?)
• Preferimos el cine en lugar del teatro. (We prefer cinema over theater.)
• Prefiero ir al parque en lugar de quedarme en casa. (I prefer going to the park instead of staying at home.)
• Ellos prefieren tomar el tren en lugar del autobús. (They prefer taking the train instead of the bus.)

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