preferirse

Preferirse is a pronominal verb in Spanish, formed from the verb preferir with a reflexive pronoun. It has two primary senses: expressing a personal preference for one option over another (self-preference) and, in its reciprocal use, indicating mutual preference between two or more subjects (they prefer each other).

In the present tense, the forms are: me prefiero, te prefieres, se prefiere, nos preferimos, os preferís, se prefieren. The verb retains the e to ie stem change found in preferir, with the exception that the nosotros and vosotros forms use preferimos and preferís, respectively. The reflexive pronoun is placed before the verb (me, te, se, nos, os, se).

Common uses include both senses. For self-preference, one can say: me prefiero quedar en casa a salir; me prefiero este traje a aquel. This construction often accompanies an infinitive or a clause: “Me prefiero quedarme en casa” or “Me prefiero vivir aquí.” For reciprocal sense, the structure conveys mutual preference: entre dos amigos, se prefieren el uno al otro; entre colegas, se prefieren trabajar juntos en lugar de por separado.

Etymology and related forms: preferirse derives from the Latin praeferre, meaning “to carry before” or “to prefer.” It is related to the non-pronominal preferir and shares its semantic field of choosing one option over another, with the added dimension of reflexive or reciprocal emphasis.

See also: preferir, reflexive verbs, pronominal verbs.