What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the indirect object pronoun te (you) and the first-person singular present indicative of desear (I wish).
Which one should you use?
While te deseo is used for an individual you know well, le deseo is used when you wish something to someone in a formal context or to show respect. To wish something to a group of people, use les deseo.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to someone using the formal usted form, substitute te deseo with le deseo. If your wish is directed at more than one person, use les deseo.
How do you pronounce it?
/te deseo/
When do people say it?
There are several common ways to offer specific wishes: ¡Feliz cumpleaños! is used to wish someone a happy birthday, and ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo! is a common greeting used to wish someone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Did you know?
- Using te deseo on its own without specifying what you wish can be interpreted as a romantic or sexual expression of desire.
- The verb deseo shares an unexpected ancestor with the word for 'laziness' or 'sloth'. It originates from the Latin word dēsidia, which originally referred to a state of idleness or lack of effort.
- While you might want to say 'I wish you a good appetite', a Spanish speaker would almost never use the verb desear for this, opting instead for the set phrase ¡Buen provecho!
Examples in context
- Te deseo lo mejor.I wish you all the best.This sentence is useful for wishing someone all the best using te deseo.Tatoeba #1189807 by Shishir, translation #2789086 by Trog41
- Te deseo mucho éxito.I wish you every success.This sentence is useful for wishing someone every success using te deseo.Tatoeba #2386847 by diegohn, translation #54397 by CM
- Te deseo buena suerte.I wish you good luck.This sentence is useful for wishing someone good luck using te deseo.Tatoeba #972469 by Shishir, translation #54468 by CK
- Deseo que tenga un feliz cumpleañosI wish you a happy birthday
- Le deseo un próspero Año NuevoI wish you a prosperous New Year
- Reciba mis mejores deseos en su nueva aventuraReceive my best wishes on your new adventure
- Te deseo un feliz aniversarioI wish you a happy anniversary
- Espero que tengas unas buenas vacacionesI hope you have a great vacation
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Te deseo mucha felicidadHappy birthday! I wish you much happiness
- ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo! Que todos tus sueños se hagan realidadMerry Christmas and a happy New Year! May all your dreams come true
- ¡Feliz aniversario! Espero que tengas un día lleno de amor y felicidad junto a tus seres queridosHappy anniversary! I hope you have a day full of love and happiness with your loved ones
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is seeing off Alejandro as he starts a new job.
- MaríaTe deseo lo mejor en tu nuevo trabajo.I wish you the best in your new job.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias, María.Thank you very much, María.
- MaríaSé que te irá muy bien.I know you will do very well.
- AlejandroEspero que sí, gracias por tus palabras.I hope so, thanks for your words.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deseo, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
