desearía

Desearía is the first-person singular conditional form of the Spanish verb desear, meaning to wish or to desire. In everyday use it is primarily employed to express polite requests, hypothetical desires, or softer statements than those conveyed by the present tense forms such as quiero or deseo. The phrase can function on its own or with a subordinate clause introduced by que.

In grammar, desear is a regular -ar verb, and desearía belongs to the conditional mood, which is often used for courteous requests and tentative statements. It can pair with a simple object or with a subordinate clause in the subjunctive to express wishes about others’ actions, as in desearía que me ayudaras. It is common to compare desearía with other polite forms like quisiera or me gustaría; all serve to soften a request, but with subtle shades of formality and emphasis.

Usage notes and examples illustrate its versatility. Desearía una taza de café, por favor (I would like a cup of coffee, please). Desearía saber su decisión (I would like to know your decision). Desearía haber llegado a tiempo (I would have liked to have arrived on time). Desearía que lloviera mañana (I wish it would rain tomorrow). Desearía que me ayudaras (I wish you would help me). In formal writing, desearía can convey respect or cautious optimism, while in informal speech speakers might opt for quisiera or me gustaría.

See also: desear, quisiera, me gustaría, ojalá, polite requests in Spanish.