préférerions

Préférerions is the first-person plural form of the French verb préférer in the conditional present, and translates to “we would prefer.” It is used to express a hypothetical preference, to make a polite suggestion, or to soften a statement of choice.

Formation and form: The conditional present uses the infinitive form préférer as its stem and attaches the endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. Therefore, préférerions is formed from préférer plus the ending -ions. In standard spelling it is written with a space between the subject and the verb: nous préférerions.

Usage: The conditional present is employed to express what one would prefer under certain conditions, to propose options politely, or to speak about hypothetical scenarios. It often appears in formal or courteous discourse, as well as in hypothetical statements in literature or journalism.

Examples:

- Nous préférerions rester ici.

- Si cela vous convient, nous préférerions partir demain.

Etymology and related forms: préférer comes from the verb preferrer in historical French, ultimately deriving from Latin praeferre, “to carry before.” Related forms include je préférerais, tu préférerais, il/elle préférerait, nous préférerions, vous préféreriez, ils/elles préféreraient, all part of the same conditional mood. See also préférer and the broader use of the conditionnel présent in French.