Preferire (to prefer) is one of the most pragmatically useful verbs in Italian, alongside volere and piacere. It is the polite, neutral way to express what you'd rather have, do, or eat — and its conditional form preferirei ("I would prefer") is probably the single most useful softening device in everyday Italian after vorrei. If you're at a restaurant in Rome and want to sound like a confident speaker rather than a tourist, you don't say voglio la pasta; you say preferirei la pasta or preferirei prendere la pasta.
Conjugationally, preferire is a textbook -isco -ire verb: it inserts the -isc- infix in four of the six forms of the present (io, tu, lui, loro) but not in the noi and voi forms. Compound tenses always take avere — preferire is unambiguously transitive, so there is no auxiliary split to worry about (unlike finire and cominciare).
Etymologically, preferire comes from Latin praeferre — prae- (before, in front of) + ferre (to carry, to bear). Literally "to carry before," meaning to put one thing in front of another in your hierarchy of preferences. The Latin verb is the same root that gives English prefer, preference, preferable and Italian's relatives referire (to report), trasferire (to transfer), conferire (to confer). Modern Italian dropped the suppletive Latin paradigm and recast the verb as a regular -isco -ire — making it cleanly conjugable while keeping the elevated, slightly bookish flavor that suits its pragmatic use.
Indicativo presente
| Person | Form | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| io | preferisco | /prefeˈrisko/ |
| tu | preferisci | /prefeˈriʃʃi/ |
| lui / lei / Lei | preferisce | /prefeˈriʃʃe/ |
| noi | preferiamo | /prefeˈrjamo/ |
| voi | preferite | /prefeˈrite/ |
| loro | preferiscono | /prefeˈriskono/ |
The classic -isco shape: the -isc- chunk shows up in io, tu, lui, and loro, then disappears entirely in noi and voi. The pronunciation alternates within the paradigm — sc is hard /sk/ before o and consonants (so preferisco, preferiscono sound like "preferisko, preferiskono") but soft /ʃ/ before i and e (so preferisci, preferisce sound like "preferishi, preferishe").
The stress pattern is also consistent across the four infix forms: pre-fe-RIS-ko, pre-fe-RIS-shi, pre-fe-RIS-she, pre-fe-RIS-ko-no — always on the -is- of the infix. In noi and voi, stress shifts to the ending: pre-fe-RIA-mo, pre-fe-RI-te.
Preferisco il caffè al tè, sempre.
I prefer coffee over tea, always.
Cosa preferisci, andare al cinema o al ristorante?
What do you prefer, going to the cinema or to a restaurant?
Mia madre preferisce la cucina del nord.
My mother prefers northern Italian cooking.
Preferiamo vedere il film in lingua originale.
We prefer to watch the film in the original language.
Voi preferite la spiaggia o la montagna?
Do you guys prefer the beach or the mountains?
I miei figli preferiscono giocare fuori che davanti alla TV.
My kids prefer playing outside to being in front of the TV.
Imperfetto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | preferivo |
| tu | preferivi |
| lui / lei / Lei | preferiva |
| noi | preferivamo |
| voi | preferivate |
| loro | preferivano |
Fully regular -ire imperfetto on the plain stem prefer- — the -isc- infix is strictly a presente phenomenon and disappears here. This is heavily used to describe past preferences and habits: da bambino preferivo i cartoni animati ("as a kid I preferred cartoons").
Da giovane preferivo le serate fuori, ora preferisco stare a casa.
When I was younger I preferred nights out; now I prefer staying in.
I miei nonni preferivano sempre cenare prestissimo.
My grandparents always preferred to have dinner very early.
Passato remoto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | preferii |
| tu | preferisti |
| lui / lei / Lei | preferì |
| noi | preferimmo |
| voi | preferiste |
| loro | preferirono |
Regular -ire passato remoto on the plain stem. Three orthographic details: the double i of preferii (stem-final i + ending -i), the mandatory grave accent on 3sg preferì (without it, preferi would be a typo), and the double m in 1pl preferimmo.
In modern conversation the passato remoto of preferire is rare; in narrative writing and biographical prose it remains current: Tra le due offerte, preferì quella più sicura — "Between the two offers, she preferred the safer one."
Tra le tante città, preferì sempre Napoli.
Among all the cities, she always preferred Naples.
Preferimmo tornare a casa piuttosto che continuare la serata.
We preferred to go home rather than continue the evening.
Futuro semplice
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | preferirò |
| tu | preferirai |
| lui / lei / Lei | preferirà |
| noi | preferiremo |
| voi | preferirete |
| loro | preferiranno |
Standard -ire future on the stem preferir- with the regular endings. Mandatory grave accents on preferirò (1sg) and preferirà (3sg). Like other Italian futures, this paradigm doubles as conjecture about the present with a hedge of personal taste: Lui preferirà il vino bianco, immagino ("He probably prefers white wine, I'd guess").
Probabilmente preferirò la versione doppiata, sono stanco di leggere i sottotitoli.
I'll probably prefer the dubbed version — I'm tired of reading subtitles.
Vedrai, alla fine preferirai la nostra proposta.
You'll see, in the end you'll prefer our proposal.
Condizionale presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | preferirei |
| tu | preferiresti |
| lui / lei / Lei | preferirebbe |
| noi | preferiremmo |
| voi | preferireste |
| loro | preferirebbero |
This is the form to memorise above all others. Preferirei ("I would prefer") is a daily-use politeness device — an alternative to vorrei ("I would like") that carries a slightly more deliberate, choice-based feel. When you're hesitating between options, hedging a request, or trying not to sound demanding, preferirei is what you reach for.
The double-m vs single-m trap returns in 1pl: preferiremo is the future ("we will prefer"), preferiremmo is the conditional ("we would prefer"). Mind the spelling.
Preferirei un tavolo vicino alla finestra, se possibile.
I'd prefer a table near the window, if possible.
Preferiresti uscire o restare a casa stasera?
Would you rather go out or stay home tonight?
Preferiremmo non parlarne, è una storia complicata.
We'd rather not talk about it, it's a complicated story.
Congiuntivo presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| (che) io | preferisca |
| (che) tu | preferisca |
| (che) lui / lei | preferisca |
| (che) noi | preferiamo |
| (che) voi | preferiate |
| (che) loro | preferiscano |
The -isc- infix returns in the singular forms and 3pl of the congiuntivo presente — same four positions as in the indicative present. The three singulars collapse into preferisca, distinguished from one another only by context or by adding the subject pronoun.
Crucially, preferire che is itself a subjunctive trigger: it expresses a desire about someone else's action, which is a textbook subjunctive context. Preferisco che tu venga ("I prefer that you come") — the verb in the subordinate clause must be congiuntivo. See subjunctive triggers: verbs of volition.
Preferisco che tu venga con noi domani.
I'd prefer that you come with us tomorrow.
Pensa che io preferisca il rosso, ma non è vero.
He thinks I prefer red wine, but that's not true.
È strano che preferiscano sempre i posti più rumorosi.
It's strange that they always prefer the noisiest spots.
Congiuntivo imperfetto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| (che) io | preferissi |
| (che) tu | preferissi |
| (che) lui / lei | preferisse |
| (che) noi | preferissimo |
| (che) voi | preferiste |
| (che) loro | preferissero |
Standard -ire congiuntivo imperfetto on the plain stem — no infix. Used in counterfactuals: se preferissi, potremmo cambiare ristorante ("if you'd prefer, we could switch restaurants"). Pairs especially well with the conditional preferirei in hypothetical politeness frames.
Se preferissi un altro tavolo, basta dirlo.
If you'd prefer another table, just say so.
Pensavamo che preferissero rimanere a casa.
We thought they'd prefer to stay home.
Imperativo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | preferisci! |
| Lei (formal) | preferisca! |
| noi | preferiamo! |
| voi | preferite! |
| loro (formal pl.) | preferiscano! |
The imperative of preferire exists in form but is rarely used as a real command — you can't easily order someone to prefer something. When it does appear, it's usually as a kind of hedged invitation: preferisci tu ("you choose / you decide") gives the addressee a polite choice between options.
Preferisci tu, io non ho preferenze.
You choose, I have no preferences.
Preferiscano pure quello che vogliono, signori.
Please choose whatever you'd prefer, ladies and gentlemen. (formal)
Forme non finite
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Infinito presente | preferire |
| Infinito passato | aver(e) preferito |
| Gerundio presente | preferendo |
| Gerundio passato | avendo preferito |
| Participio passato | preferito/a/i/e |
The participle preferito is regular and works double duty: as the participle in compound tenses (ho preferito) and as a free-standing adjective meaning "favourite, preferred." This is heavily used in everyday Italian: il mio film preferito, la mia pizza preferita, i miei autori preferiti. English uses the noun favourite where Italian uses the past participle.
Qual è il tuo libro preferito?
What's your favourite book?
I gelati preferiti dei bambini sono al cioccolato e alla fragola.
The kids' favourite ice creams are chocolate and strawberry.
Compound tenses: always avere
Unlike finire and cominciare — which split between avere and essere depending on transitivity — preferire is unambiguously transitive and always takes avere in compound tenses. There is always something you prefer, even if it's only implicit. The participle does not agree with the subject.
| Tense | io | noi |
|---|---|---|
| Passato prossimo | ho preferito | abbiamo preferito |
| Trapassato prossimo | avevo preferito | avevamo preferito |
| Trapassato remoto | ebbi preferito | avemmo preferito |
| Futuro anteriore | avrò preferito | avremo preferito |
| Condizionale passato | avrei preferito | avremmo preferito |
| Congiuntivo passato | abbia preferito | abbiamo preferito |
| Congiuntivo trapassato | avessi preferito | avessimo preferito |
The participle does agree, however, with a preceding direct-object pronoun — like all avere verbs: l'ho preferita (her, fem.), li ho preferiti (them, masc.).
Ho sempre preferito il mare alla montagna.
I've always preferred the sea over the mountains.
Avrei preferito non saperlo, sinceramente.
I'd have preferred not to know, honestly.
Tra tutte le candidate, l'azienda ha preferito Maria.
Of all the candidates, the company preferred Maria.
The three patterns: preferire X, preferire X a Y, preferire + infinitive
There are three core constructions with preferire, and learners should drill them as fixed frames.
1. preferire + direct object
The simplest pattern: preferire something. The direct object follows the verb without a preposition.
Preferisco il vino rosso.
I prefer red wine.
Mio padre preferisce la musica classica.
My father prefers classical music.
2. preferire X a Y — "prefer X over Y"
This is the comparative construction, and the preposition before the rejected option is fixed: a, never da and never che.
Preferisco il treno all'aereo per i viaggi corti.
I prefer the train over the plane for short trips.
I bambini preferiscono i cartoni animati ai documentari.
Kids prefer cartoons over documentaries.
Preferiamo passare il Natale in famiglia agli inviti formali.
We prefer spending Christmas with family to formal invitations.
The a contracts with the article when one is present, just like any other a: al (a + il), allo (a + lo), alla (a + la), ai, agli, alle. So preferisco la pasta al riso (al = a + il), preferisco il mare alla montagna (alla = a + la).
3. preferire + infinitive — "prefer to do"
When the preference is for an action, preferire is followed directly by the infinitive — no preposition between preferire and the infinitive (unlike cominciare a or finire di).
Preferisco camminare piuttosto che prendere la metro.
I prefer walking to taking the subway.
Preferiremmo non aspettare ancora.
We'd prefer not to wait any longer.
For the comparison, you can use piuttosto che + infinitive ("rather than doing") to specify the rejected action — that's the cleanest way to compare two activities.
4. preferire che + congiuntivo — "prefer that someone do"
When the preference is about another person's action, you switch to a che-clause with the subjunctive. This is a textbook volition trigger.
Preferisco che tu rimanga qui stanotte.
I'd prefer for you to stay here tonight.
La direzione preferisce che i clienti prenotino in anticipo.
The management prefers that customers book in advance.
Idiomatic and pragmatic uses
Preferire isn't rich in fixed idioms the way finire is, but its pragmatic role is enormous. A few patterns worth memorising:
- Preferirei di no. — "I'd rather not." A polite refusal, useful when declining invitations.
- Cosa preferisci? — "What would you prefer?" The standard way of giving a guest the choice.
- Preferiamo dire di sì. — "We prefer to say yes." Used in business and bureaucratic register to soften an approval.
- Non ho preferenze. — Strictly speaking, this uses the noun preferenza (preference), but it's the natural pair to a question with preferire, useful when you genuinely don't mind: Cosa preferisci? — Non ho preferenze, scegli tu.
- Tra i due, preferisco... — "Between the two, I prefer..." A frame for explicit comparison.
- A dire la verità, preferirei... — "To tell the truth, I'd rather..." A softening frame for redirecting a conversation.
Vieni alla festa? — Preferirei di no, sono stanca.
Are you coming to the party? — I'd rather not, I'm tired.
A dire la verità, preferirei un caffè americano a un espresso.
To tell the truth, I'd rather have an Americano than an espresso.
Synonyms and antonym
- scegliere — to choose. The action verb that follows preferire's mental act of preference.
- piacere — to be pleasing. Mi piace di più ("I like it more") is a near-synonym to preferisco, but used for taste rather than choice.
- gradire — to appreciate, to enjoy. Slightly more formal than preferire; used in service contexts: Gradisce un caffè? ("Would you care for a coffee?").
- detestare / odiare — to detest / hate. The polar antonym of strong preference.
Common mistakes
❌ Preferisco la bistecca da pesce.
Incorrect — the preposition between the two compared items is a, not da. Da would mean 'from fish' here, which is nonsensical.
✅ Preferisco la bistecca al pesce.
Correct — preferire X a Y, with a contracting with the masculine article il to give al.
❌ Voi preferiscete il caffè?
Incorrect — the voi form has no -isc- infix; only io, tu, lui, loro carry it in the present.
✅ Voi preferite il caffè?
Correct — plain stem in noi and voi: preferiamo, preferite.
❌ Preferisco a leggere la sera.
Incorrect — there is no preposition between preferire and an infinitive complement (unlike cominciare a, finire di).
✅ Preferisco leggere la sera.
Correct — preferire + infinitive directly, no preposition.
❌ Preferisco che tu vieni con me.
Incorrect — preferire che triggers the subjunctive (volition trigger).
✅ Preferisco che tu venga con me.
Correct — venga is the congiuntivo presente of venire.
❌ Sono preferito stare a casa.
Incorrect auxiliary — preferire is transitive and always takes avere, not essere.
✅ Ho preferito stare a casa.
Correct — avere with the invariable participle preferito.
❌ Preferiremo un tavolo vicino alla finestra. (intended: 'we would prefer')
Incorrect form for a polite request — preferiremo (single m) is the future, 'we will prefer'.
✅ Preferiremmo un tavolo vicino alla finestra.
Correct — preferiremmo (double m) is the conditional, 'we would prefer', the polite form.
Key takeaways
Preferire is the polite, deliberate cousin of volere, and a daily essential at A1.
It's an -isco verb. The -isc- infix appears in four presente forms (io, tu, lui, loro) and in the matching imperative and congiuntivo presente forms — and nowhere else. Imperfetto, future, conditional, gerundio, and passato remoto all use the plain stem prefer-.
The auxiliary is always avere. Unlike finire and cominciare, preferire doesn't split — there is always something you prefer, so the verb is transitive. Compound tenses are ho preferito, abbiamo preferito, with no participle agreement on the subject.
Three constructions to drill as fixed frames:
- preferire X a Y (prefer X over Y) — the rejected option always takes a, never da.
- preferire + infinitive — no preposition between them.
- preferire che + congiuntivo — when the preference is about another person's action.
Preferirei is the polite weapon of choice. Master the conditional first — it makes you sound infinitely more native than the bare present. Preferirei un tavolo all'aperto, preferirei non rispondere, preferirei di no.
For more on the construction with the subjunctive, see subjunctive triggers of volition; for the politeness uses of the conditional, see conditional: courtesy and softening.
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Open the Italian course →Related Topics
- Finire: Full ConjugationA1 — Complete paradigm of finire (to finish, to end) — the model -isco -ire verb, with the auxiliary split between avere (transitive) and essere (intransitive) that learners must master.
- Capire: Full ConjugationA1 — Complete paradigm of capire (to understand) — the model -isco -ire verb, with the -isc- infix appearing in the four 'corner' forms (singular + 3pl) of the present and present subjunctive but nowhere else, plus the full set of conjugations across every tense.
- Presente: -isco -ire VerbsA1 — How to conjugate the productive -isco subgroup of -ire verbs in the present indicative — the default pattern that covers the vast majority of -ire verbs you'll encounter.
- Auxiliary Selection: Essere vs Avere (The Critical Decision)A1 — The single grammatical decision that determines how every Italian compound tense works — when to use essere, when to use avere, and how to predict the right answer for any verb.