# Ojalá: hopes and regrets

> id: grammar.subjunctive.ojala · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: B1 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Ojalá + present subjunctive hopes (ojalá venga); + imperfect wishes against the odds (ojalá viniera); + pluperfect regrets (ojalá hubiera venido).

Ojalá ('I hope / if only') always takes the subjunctive, with or without a following que. The word comes from Arabic 'in shā’ Allāh', and it expresses a wish whose realism is set entirely by the tense you choose.

Present subjunctive = a real hope for the future: ojalá venga, ojalá apruebe el visado. Imperfect subjunctive = a wish seen as unlikely or contrary to fact: ojalá viniera, ojalá tuviéramos más tiempo. Pluperfect subjunctive = regret about the past: ojalá hubiera venido, ojalá lo hubiéramos sabido.

It can also stand alone as a heartfelt 'I hope so!': ¿Crees que baje el dólar? — ¡Ojalá!

## Examples
- Ojalá apruebe el visado. — I hope the visa gets approved.
- Ojalá tuviéramos más tiempo. — I wish we had more time.
- Ojalá salga todo bien mañana. — I hope everything goes well tomorrow.

Related: grammar.subjunctive.wishes-requests, conjugation.subjunctive.imperfect

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