The Spanish verb "preferir" means "to prefer" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "preferir" across all 5 tenses. New to Spanish verbs? Start with the Spanish verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "preferir" in the Present Tense
Presente de indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | prefiero |
| tú | you (informal) | prefieres |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | prefiere |
| nosotros | we | preferimos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | preferís |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | prefieren |
Ella prefiere caminar al parque.
She prefers to walk to the park.
How to Conjugate "preferir" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfecto simple Actions that finished in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | preferí |
| tú | you (informal) | preferiste |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | prefirió |
| nosotros | we | preferimos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | preferisteis |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | prefirieron |
Ella prefirió salir muy temprano.
She preferred to leave very early.
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Pretérito imperfecto Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | prefería |
| tú | you (informal) | preferías |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | prefería |
| nosotros | we | preferíamos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | preferíais |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | preferían |
Él prefería caminar al trabajo.
He used to prefer walking to work.
How to Conjugate "preferir" in the Future Tense
Futuro simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | preferiré |
| tú | you (informal) | preferirás |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | preferirá |
| nosotros | we | preferiremos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | preferiréis |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | preferirán |
Él preferirá estudiar en casa.
He will prefer to study at home.
How to Conjugate "preferir" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional simple Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | preferiría |
| tú | you (informal) | preferirías |
| él/ella/usted | he/she/you (formal) | preferiría |
| nosotros | we | preferiríamos |
| vosotros | you all (Spain) | preferiríais |
| ellos/ustedes | they/you all | preferirían |
Él preferiría viajar en tren.
He would prefer to travel by train.
Frequently Asked Questions About "preferir"
Is "preferir" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"Preferir" is an irregular Spanish verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "preferir" mean in English?
The Spanish verb "preferir" means "to prefer" in English.
How do you conjugate "preferir" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente de indicativo): yo → prefiero, tú → prefieres, él/ella/usted → prefiere, nosotros → preferimos, vosotros → preferís, ellos/ustedes → prefieren.
How many tenses does "preferir" have in Spanish?
"Preferir" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Spanish: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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