ojalá
/oxaˈla/
In Spanish, "I hope" is expressed as ojalá.
Ojalá is an expression used to say that you strongly wish for something to happen. You can also use ojalá alone as an exclamation to mean "I hope so!" or "If only!"
What does it mean word for word?
The word ojalá is etymologically derived from the Arabic phrase law šá lláh, meaning "God willing".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, people add que sí after Ojalá to emphasize their desire for something to come true.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ojalá is almost always followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. Additionally, the word que is optional after ojalá.
How do you pronounce it?
/oxaˈla/
Did you know?
- Even though it starts with an 'o', ojalá is not related to the Spanish word for 'eye', ojo, despite their similar appearance.
- In some contexts, ojalá can be used ironically or as a curse, such as ojalá te caigas, meaning 'I hope you fall'.
- The word ojalá is a linguistic relic of the Al-Andalus period, when Arabic heavily influenced the development of the Spanish language in the Iberian Peninsula.
Examples in context
- Ojalá te vaya bien.I hope you do fine.This sentence shows how to use ojalá to wish someone well.Tatoeba #1167654 by marcelostockle, translation #1167658 by CK
- Ojalá que te mueras.I hope you die.This sentence shows a use of ojalá to express a harsh wish.Tatoeba #1305445 by marcelostockle, translation #436715 by lukaszpp
- ¡Ojalá que te mueras!I hope you die!This sentence shows ojalá used in an emphatic exclamation.Tatoeba #9130315 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9130318 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Espero que tengas un buen día.I hope you have a good day.
- Deseo que tenga una pronta recuperación.I hope you have a speedy recovery.
- ¡Ojalá tengas un viaje maravilloso!I hope you have a wonderful trip!
- Espero que me llames pronto.I hope you call me soon.
- Ojalá que sí apruebes el examen.I hope you pass the exam.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking about an upcoming job interview.
- ElenaOjalá te vaya muy bien en la entrevista, Javier.I hope the interview goes very well for you, Javier.
- JavierGracias, Elena. Estoy un poco nervioso.Thanks, Elena. I am a little nervous.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, eres muy capaz.Don't worry, you are very capable.
- JavierOjalá me llamen pronto.I hope they call me soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ojalá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ojalá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
