quem me dera
/ˈkẽj̃ mi ˈdɛ.ɾɐ/
In Portuguese, quem me dera is used to say 'I wish'.
It carries a sense of 'I would very much like that to be so'.
Meaning: I would very much like that to be so (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'who would grant it to me'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While grammatically correct, quem me dera has a slightly poetic or colloquial flavor compared to more direct ways of expressing desire. It is categorized as colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
This phrase is typically followed by a verb in the imperfect subjunctive mood to express a wish.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkẽj̃ mi ˈdɛ.ɾɐ/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, quem me dera can be used sarcastically to imply that a wish is completely impossible or laughable.
- Despite its colloquial use, quem me dera is considered 'poetic' because it frames a wish as a request to an unnamed, higher power who might 'grant' it.
- The verb in quem me dera uses the pluperfect tense, a form that in modern Portuguese is almost exclusively reserved for literature, poetry, or very formal speech.
Examples in context
- Quem me dera poder.I wish I could.This example shows how to express the wish to be able to do something.Tatoeba #7067267 by carlosalberto, translation #39488 by CK
- Quem me dera poder voar!I wish I could fly.This example is useful for expressing a wish to have the ability to fly.Tatoeba #12198653 by carlosalberto, translation #10137227 by espamatics
- Quem me dera ser um génio.I wish I was a genius.This example demonstrates expressing the wish to be a genius.Tatoeba #8097272 by iT4LL, translation #6794059 by Hybrid
- Eu desejo que você tenha um feliz aniversário!I wish you a happy birthday!
- Eu gostaria de viajar para o Brasil no próximo ano.I would like to travel to Brazil next year.
- Tomara que chova amanhã para que a grama cresça mais rápido.I hope it rains tomorrow so that the grass grows faster.
- Queria poder te ajudar mais.I wish I could help you more.
- Queria muito que você viesse à festa hoje à noite.I really wish you were coming to the party tonight.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about winning the lottery.
- GabrielQuem me dera ganhar na loteria.I wish I could win the lottery.
- JulianaVocê seria uma pessoa muito rica, Gabriel.You would be a very rich person, Gabriel.
- GabrielCom certeza, Juliana!For sure, Juliana!
- JulianaQuem me dera ter essa sorte.I wish I had that luck.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I wish” translations and entries quem me dera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
