By Lingobi, Published on 06/07/2025
One of the most beautiful and culturally rich words in Spanish is ojalá. You’ll hear it often in conversation, music, and even in telenovelas. But where does it come from, and how do you use it correctly?
A word with Arabic roots
Believe it or not, ojalá comes from the Arabic phrase "in shā’ Allāh," which means "if God wills." Over time, this phrase transformed in Spanish into the word we now know as ojalá.
How it's used
Today, ojalá is used to express hope, wishes, or things you’d like to happen. It’s usually followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood — that’s how you know the speaker is talking about something uncertain or not guaranteed.
Ojalá llueva mañana. – I hope it rains tomorrow.
Ojalá tengas un buen día. – Hopefully you have a good day.
Ojalá pudiera ir contigo. – I wish I could go with you.
Ojalá no sea tarde. – I hope it's not too late.
It’s a powerful little word that carries a lot of emotion. As you advance in Spanish, using ojalá naturally will make your speech sound much more fluent and expressive.
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