Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| si Dios quiere | /si ˌdjos ˈkjeɾe/ |
| si Dios lo quiere | /si djos lo kjeɾe/ (from spelling rules) |
| ojalá | /oxaˈla/ |
| Dios mediante | /ˌdjos meˈdjante/ |
| Dios quiera | /djos kjeɾa/ (from spelling rules) |
si Dios quiere is frequently used in everyday conversation to express hope for future events, regardless of the speaker's actual religious devotion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase si Dios quiere literally translates to 'if God wants'.
Which one should you use?
While si Dios quiere is a conditional clause, ojalá is an interjection used to express a strong wish or hope. Dios mediante is a more formal or literary way to say 'God willing' compared to si Dios quiere.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or literary situations, you can use Dios mediante. Other formal expressions include Si Dios lo permite and Si es la voluntad de Dios.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Dios quiera uses the subjunctive mood to express a wish or a prayer, similar to 'May God will it'.
How do you pronounce it?
/si ˌdjos ˈkjeɾe/
Did you know?
- The common interjection ojalá actually traces its roots back to Arabic phrases like wašāʔa llāh, which mean 'and may God will it'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, using si Dios quiere is a social lubricant that softens a commitment, making it sound less like a rigid promise and more like a hopeful intention.
- The term ojalá is so integrated into the language that it is used by atheists and agnostics to mean 'I hope' or 'if only', with no religious intent.
Examples in context
- Mañana, si Dios quiere, estaremos con tus padres.Tomorrow, God willing, we'll be with your parents.This sentence shows how to use si Dios quiere to express a plan for tomorrow.Tatoeba #6985496 by cueyayotl, translation #1949171 by erikspen
- Dios mediante, nuestro sueño se hará realidad.God willing, our dream will come true.This sentence demonstrates the use of Dios mediante to express a hope for a dream to come true.
- Si Dios quiere, lo haré mañana.God willing, I will do it tomorrow.This sentence shows how si Dios quiere can be used when discussing a task to be performed tomorrow.Tatoeba #9124448 by carlosalberto, translation #9124415 by carlosalberto
- Mañana iremos de viaje si Dios quiere.Tomorrow, we'll go on a trip, God willing.
- Nos volveremos a ver el próximo mes, si Dios lo permite.We'll see each other again next month, God willing.
- Ojalá tengas una buena jornada, amigo.God willing, you'll have a good day, my friend.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their travel plans.
- LucíaNos iremos de vacaciones en verano, si Dios quiere.We will go on vacation in the summer, god willing.
- JavierEso espero, Lucía. Será un viaje increíble.I hope so, Lucía. It will be an amazing trip.
- LucíaTú también deberías venir con nosotros.You should come with us too.
- JavierMe encantaría, si puedo conseguir los días libres.I would love to, if I can get the days off.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God willing” translations and entries si Dios quiere, si Dios lo quiere, ojalá, Dios mediante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dios, dios, lo, mediante, ojalá, si, si Dios quiere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
