One word for every hope
Ojalá means roughly hopefully or I hope, and it is everyday Spanish: on the platform, in the waiting room, before the football match.
Ojalá venga mañana.
Hopefully he comes tomorrow.
Ojalá haga buen tiempo el domingo.
Hopefully the weather is good on Sunday.
Ojalá el tren no llegue tarde.
Hopefully the train is not late.
Ojalá pueda ir a la fiesta.
Hopefully I can go to the party.
Here ojalá is followed by the present subjuntivo, with the same forms as after any other trigger. It fits wishes that can still come true.
Sentence structure
Ojalá needs no main clause. Que may follow it but does not have to, and the meaning stays the same. Negation is no directly before the verb, with no do or does not.
Ojalá llueva pronto.
Hopefully it rains soon.
Ojalá que llueva pronto.
Hopefully it rains soon. (same meaning)
Ojalá no llueva el sábado.
Hopefully it does not rain on Saturday.
Ojalá or espero que?
Both take the subjunctive. Espero que names who is hoping and sounds a little more formal. Ojalá leaves that open and sounds more spontaneous. You never combine the two.
Ojalá apruebes el examen.
Hopefully you pass the exam.
Espero que apruebes el examen.
I hope that you pass the exam.
Ojalá as a complete reply
On its own, with no verb, ojalá reacts to what someone has just said, like English I hope so. Ojalá que sí and ojalá que no are common too.
Marta
Creo que este año nos suben el sueldo.
I think they are raising our pay this year.
Diego
¡Ojalá!
I hope so!
Marta
¿Crees que mañana hará buen tiempo?
Do you think the weather will be good tomorrow?
Diego
Ojalá que sí.
Hopefully.
