ojalá

hopefully (I hope that); God willing: inshallah; if only

“El gato ha estado escondiéndose debajo del sofá desde que se levantaron los niños. Ojalá yo pudiera hacer lo mismo.” — The cat has been hiding under the couch since the kids woke up. If only I could do the same.

Inherited from Old Spanish oxalá, from Arabic وَشَاءَ ٱلله (wašāʔa llāh, “and may God will it”) or لَوْ شَاءَ ٱلله (law šāʔa llāh, “if God wills it”). Compare Arabic إنْ شَاءَ الله (ʔin šāʔa llāh).

I hope so; let's hope so; God willing; I hope (that); let's hope (that) (followed by present subjunctive); God grant (that) (followed by present subjunctive); I wish (when used to refer to past events)

Inherited from Old Spanish oxalá, from Arabic وَشَاءَ ٱلله (wašāʔa llāh, “and may God will it”) or لَوْ شَاءَ ٱلله (law šāʔa llāh, “if God wills it”). Compare Arabic إنْ شَاءَ الله (ʔin šāʔa llāh).