е́сли бы
jésli by
The English phrase 'I wish' can be expressed in Russian using е́сли бы (jésli by). Wiktionary also lists хоте́лось бы (xotélosʹ by) and е́сли бы то́лько (jésli by tólʹko).
Meaning: I would very much like that to be so (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| е́сли бы | jésli by |
| хоте́лось бы | xotélosʹ by |
| е́сли бы то́лько | jésli by tólʹko |
Use хоте́лось бы to express a personal preference or something you would like to happen. Use е́сли бы to express a hypothetical condition, a counterfactual situation or to start a clause that means 'if it were'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase е́сли бы то́лько literally translates to 'if only'.
Which one should you use?
хоте́лось бы is used to express a personal desire or preference, whereas е́сли бы is used to express a hypothetical condition or a regret about a situation. е́сли бы то́лько is used to express a strong wish for a different reality.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle бы is used in these phrases to express the subjunctive mood, which corresponds to the English 'would'.
How do you pronounce it?
jésli by
Did you know?
- There is a common Russian idiom Е́сли бы, да кабы, used sarcastically to shut down someone who spends too much time saying 'I wish' instead of acting.
- When using хоте́лось бы, you are actually using a reflexive verb form that translates closer to 'it would be desired'. This subtly shifts the focus from your active desire to the feeling of the desire itself.
- The particle бы is essentially a linguistic ghost of the ancient Slavic verb 'to be'. In many Russian expressions of 'I wish', this tiny particle carries the entire weight of the hypothetical reality you are imagining.
Examples in context
- Я желаю вам успеховI wish you success
- Желаю Вам здоровьяI wish you good health
- Я желаю тебе весёлых выходныхI wish you a fun weekend
- Желаю тебе удачи на экзаменеI wish you good luck on your exam
- Е́сли бы я зна́л отве́т.Esli by ya znal otvet.I wish I knew the answer.
- Е́сли бы мы мо́гли поехать.Esli by my mogli poyekhat'.I wish we could go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I wish” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries бы, CC BY-SA 4.0.
