oxalá + Subjunctive
Wishes with Oxalá
Oxalá + subjunctive expresses a hope or a wish, as in Oxalá faga bo tempo (I hope the weather is good) and Oxalá veñas pronto (I hope you come soon).
How It Works
The pattern: oxalá + present subjunctive for something that can still happen: Oxalá chova esta semana (I hope it rains this week).
Nothing to conjugate in oxalá: English "I hope" has a subject, but oxalá stays the same. The person goes on the next verb: Oxalá aprobes (I hope you pass), Oxalá aprobemos (I hope we pass).
Unlikely wishes: for something improbable or already impossible, oxalá takes the imperfect subjunctive: Oxalá estiveses aquí (I wish you were here).
Other ways to wish:
• que + subjunctive for good wishes: Que teñas bo día! (Have a good day!)
• esperar que + subjunctive: Espero que te mellores (I hope you get better)
• Deus o queira! (God willing!)
Spelling: write oxalá, with x and a final accent. The Academy's dictionary lists ogallá as a less recommended form.
Examples (6)
- Oxalá faga bo tempo.
I hope the weather is good.
Word by Word: Hopefully make good weather.
Faga is the subjunctive of facer, used for weather.
- Oxalá veñas pronto.
I hope you come soon.
Word by Word: Hopefully come-you soon.
Veñas is the ti form of vir in the subjunctive.
- Oxalá teñas sorte no exame!
Good luck in the exam!
Word by Word: Hopefully have-you luck in-the exam!
A common way to wish someone luck.
- Oxalá non sexa nada grave.
I hope it is nothing serious.
Word by Word: Hopefully not be nothing serious.
Oxalá also works with a negative wish.
- Oxalá chova esta semana; os campos están secos.
I hope it rains this week; the fields are dry.
Word by Word: Hopefully rain this week; the fields are dry.
Chova is the subjunctive of chover.
- Que teñas bo día!
Have a good day!
Word by Word: That have-you good day!
A wish with que + subjunctive, without oxalá.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after oxalá.
Oxalá vés pronto.Oxalá veñas pronto.Oxalá always takes the subjunctive, because it expresses a wish, not a fact.
Using the present indicative for a hoped-for future event.
Oxalá chove mañá.Oxalá chova mañá.Chove presents the rain as a fact. For a hope, use the subjunctive chova.
Putting an infinitive after oxalá.
Oxalá poder ir.Oxalá poida ir.Oxalá needs a conjugated verb in the subjunctive, never an infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Oxalá introduces a wish with the subjunctive.
Related Patterns
- sexa / estea / teñaIrregular Present Subjunctives
Wishes often use irregular subjunctives such as teñas, sexa and haxa.
Level 3 - The Imperfect Subjunctive
Oxalá takes the imperfect subjunctive for unlikely wishes.
Level 4 - quizais / talvezPerhaps: Quizais and Talvez
Other words that can bring in the subjunctive, for possibility rather than hope.
Level 4 - poida que + SubjunctiveMaybe: Poida Que
Expresses that something may happen, also with the subjunctive.
Level 4 - querer que + SubjunctiveWanting Someone to Do Something
Another way to express what you want to happen.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice oxalá + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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