De momento, prefiero quedarme en casa y descansar.

For the moment, I prefer to stay at home and rest.

Breakdown of De momento, prefiero quedarme en casa y descansar.

• yo: I
• la casa: the house
• en: at
• y: and

Questions & Answers about De momento, prefiero quedarme en casa y descansar.

What does de momento mean here?

De momento means for the moment, for now, or at the moment.

In this sentence, it suggests that the speaker’s preference is temporary, not necessarily permanent. It often carries the idea of this is my choice right now, but that could change later.

In Spain, de momento is very common in everyday speech. A close alternative is por ahora.

Why is it prefiero and not something like prefero?

Because preferir is a stem-changing verb.

Its infinitive is preferir, but in many present-tense forms, the e in the stem changes to ie:

• yo prefiero
• tú prefieres
• él/ella prefiere
• nosotros preferimos
• vosotros preferís
• ellos prefieren

So prefiero means I prefer.

Why isn’t yo included before prefiero?

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb form.

Since prefiero already clearly means I prefer, adding yo is usually unnecessary.

You could say Yo prefiero..., but that would normally add emphasis, such as:

• I prefer...
• As for me, I prefer...

Without yo, the sentence sounds natural and neutral.