ya quisieras
/ʝa kisjeɾas/from spelling rules
In Spanish, ya quisieras is the way to say "you wish".
This is a colloquial, idiomatic expression used as a sarcastic retort. It is used to express skepticism about a statement made by the listener, indicating that what they want or assume to be true is actually impossible or highly unlikely.
Meaning: (idiomatic, colloquial) used to express the speaker's skepticism about a preceding statement concerning some desired or assumed state of affairs (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "you would already wish (it)". It is constructed using the verb querer (to want or wish) in the imperfect subjunctive mood.
Which one should you use?
While ya quisieras is the standard form, you may also encounter ¡Quisieras!, which is an informal version that conveys a more playful and fun tone. Another informal alternative is ¡Ni en sueños!, which translates to "not even in your dreams!"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression ya quisieras is informal and colloquial. It is often used in a cheeky or sassy way among friends or peers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase utilizes the second-person singular imperfect subjunctive to convey a sense of unreality or impossibility regarding the listener's desires.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝa kisjeɾas/
Did you know?
- In certain parts of the Spanish-speaking world, ya quisieras can actually be used as a flirtatious remark, turning a sarcastic dismissal into a playful way to tease a romantic interest.
- While ya quisieras is used for sarcasm, changing the verb to quisiera turns the phrase into a formal request, such as 'I would like'. This means the same verb form can either shut someone down or politely ask for a favor.
- The word ya in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the French word déjà and the Italian word già, all stemming from the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- "¿Me prestas tu Switch?" "¡Ya quisieras!""Can I borrow your Switch?" "You wish!"This example shows how to use ya quisieras as a sharp retort to a request.Tatoeba #9192836 by ecorralest101, translation #9192838 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Quisieras tener mi suerte!You wish you had my luck!
- ¡Ya quisieras tener tanto dinero!You wish you had that much money!
- "¿Crees que me voy a rendir?" "¡Ya quisieras!""Do you think I'm going to give up?" "You wish!"
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a promotion at work.
- MateoCreo que el jefe me va a ascender pronto.I think the boss is going to promote me soon.
- Elena¡Ya quisieras, Mateo!You wish, Mateo!
- MateoNo seas tan pesimista, Elena.Don't be so pessimistic, Elena.
- ElenaSolo soy realista.I'm just being realistic.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
