O jalá in english ?

Question

what does " O jalá " mean in english ?

Welcome to SpanishDict. Please use proper capitalization in your posts. - rac1, Jun 15, 2014

Please fill out your profile so as we may better help you . Welcome to the forum . Buena suerte amiga. - ray76, Jun 15, 2014

Answer 1

¡Ojalá ganen! - I hope they win!

¡Ojalá pudiera ir! - If only I could go!

thanks :) - Rihab14, Jun 15, 2014

Answer 2

Ojalá = Maybe. Maybe = Quizá.

Ojalá es como deseando.

thanks :) - Rihab14, Jun 15, 2014

I've never seen Ojalá translated as maybe, but in the right context that makes sense. - rodneyp, Jun 15, 2014

Answer 3

Ojalá cannot be taken as maybe...

hopefully but never as maybe.

Creo que tenemos diferencias. - GexThunderstrom, Jun 16, 2014

I don't think so. - chileno, Jun 16, 2014

Answer 4

Ojalá can be translated as I hope/wish to God or I really hope so / that..(ex: he would come) ..etc....I wish it would (eg: rain) etc....

Ojalá is similar to the word quizá / quizás because it carries with it the idea of hoping that something will happen but the speaker is uncertain as to whether the thing hoped for will happen/materialise!

Just to clarify things, I was not trying to suggest for one minute that it actually meant / could mean maybe, but only to indicate that the speaker expresses hopes about something, that there is uncertainty as to whether those hopes will be fulfilled and that it can be followed by the subjunctive when the word que is used. Perhaps I did not make my initial meaning clear ...if thi is so, then I sincerely apologise for any misunderstanding /or confusion caused

Ojalá is often, but not always, followed by the subjunctive mood and que is usually (but not always) used when the subjunctive is employed in these sentences:

¡Ojalá no caiga = I hope it doesn't fall!

ex: ¡Ojalá que todo salga bien! = I hope that everything turns out wel!

Examples courtesy of Oxford Spanish Dictionary (4th edn)

Origen of word: Ojalá is originally an Arabic word and finds its way into the Spanish language through the influence of the Moors (who followed the religion of Islam) who invaded Spain and influenced the language through the 8th -15th Centuries when they finally lost the last vestige of power in 1492 when Granada fell to the Reconquistas. I make no apology for mentioning these facts of history since language and culture are inextricably linked!

You can find a more detailed history of this by following the link to this Wikipedia article: link text

I hope this helps lol

Answer 5

Ojalá - I've always translated this as hope.

Ojalá que sí - I hope so

Ojalá que vengas - I hope you come

Answer 6

Literal, direct translations are often not easy. My interpretation is it means 'God Willing' or 'Let's hope so'

thanks :) - Rihab14, Jun 15, 2014

Answer 7

Ojalá - > If only. I really hope. Literally I believe: 'That God will allow'.