Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to prefer" in Spanish: preferir
preferir
To prefer in Spanish is preferir. Say yo prefiero and ¿Qué prefieres? Present forms take e→ie: prefiero, prefieres, prefiere.
Drink
Prefiero agua, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce preferir
Say it
preh-feh-REER / preh-FYEH-roh
/pɾe.fe.ˈɾiɾ/
preh-feh-REER. Yo prefiero is preh-FYEH-roh. Stress FYEH.
"to prefer" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| preferir | to prefer Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| yo prefiero | I prefer Present; e→ie. | Present; e→ie. |
| tú prefieres | you prefer Informal present. | Informal present. |
| prefiero… a… | I prefer… to… Comparing two things. | Comparing two things. |
| ¿qué prefieres? | what do you prefer? Choice ask. | Choice ask. |
How to use preferir in real life
- 1Drink
Prefiero agua, por favor.
I prefer water, please.
Prefiero drops yo.
- 2Ask
¿Prefieres café o té?
Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Prefieres with tú.
- 3Compare
Prefiero el bus al metro hoy.
I prefer the bus to the metro today.
Prefiero A a B.
Mistakes English speakers make with preferir
Incorrect: Yo prefero té.
Correct: Yo prefiero té.
Stem change: prefiero, not prefero.
Incorrect: Yo preferir el pollo.
Correct: Yo prefiero el pollo.
Conjugate: yo prefiero.
Good to know
Prefiero is soft and polite on menus. Me gusta más also ranks options. Prefiero and me gusta más both work when ordering.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing drinks at a café
ChatPal
¿Prefieres café o jugo?
Do you prefer coffee or juice?
You
Prefiero jugo de naranja.
I prefer orange juice.
ChatPal
Yo prefiero café con leche.
I prefer coffee with milk.
You
Pedimos los dos entonces.
We'll order both then.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to prefer" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to prefer" in Spanish
How do I say I prefer?
Yo prefiero.
Why prefiero not prefero?
Present e→ie: prefiero, prefieres, prefiere, prefieren.
What do you prefer?
¿Qué prefieres?
How do you pronounce prefiero?
preh-FYEH-roh — ye is one beat.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Y in Spanish AlphabetY in spanish alphabet. Learn how y works in the Spanish alphabet, from its names (ye and i griega) to its dual consonant and vowel pronunciation
- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
