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up vote 9 down vote favorite

What's the best way to say "I wish!" as in...

A: I hear you're a good dancer.

B: Ha! I wish!

Or...

A: Will you help me move this piano?

B: Ha! You wish!

What is the best way to translate these idiomatic expressions, and their sarcastic tone?

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4  
I think some of the answers don't really consider the sarcastic way you are using these words. – Peter Olson Nov 16 '11 at 13:31
thinking of accepting an answer any soon? – isJustMe Mar 16 '12 at 13:50
@Rafael.IT: It's hard to select just one, when they all contain good answers :) – Flimzy♦ Mar 16 '12 at 17:48

4 Answers

up vote 13 down vote accepted

I want to make a note that my answer applies at least for Mexico, it would be:

I wish! - ¡Ya quisiera!

You wish! - ¡Ya quisieras!

In this case wish wouldn't translate as espero, but more like desear or querer.

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I add a little modification to the answer of the 2º question. If the meaning that you want to give to the phrase is near to a joke or say to the other person "i dont help you" use "Ya quisieras" But if you want to say that you want to help and you are happy to help him: "claro ¡cómo quieras! – Aracem Nov 16 '11 at 8:20
up vote 14 down vote

For example, in one word I would translate:

B: Ha! I wish!

into

B: ¡Ja! ¡Ojalá!

Source: RAE

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Does this work everywhere or just Mexico? I always mix up ojalá and híjole... – hippietrail Nov 16 '11 at 11:51
1  
"Ojalá" is very common in Spain. In fact, it comes from the arab language, from the times where most of Spain was under muslim rule. There's a nice explanation here: etimologias.dechile.net/?ojala.- – rsuarez Nov 16 '11 at 12:46
how would you use Ojalá to You wish! though? – isJustMe Nov 16 '11 at 16:12
@Rafael.IT you can't translate You wish! with ojalá. Thats why I just put I whish. – razpeitia Nov 16 '11 at 17:32
I see.. is still a good answer, thanks for that! – isJustMe Nov 16 '11 at 17:35
up vote 1 down vote

Besides what others have written, I'd add these two translations:

I wish! = ¡Ya me gustaría!

You wish! = ¡Ya te gustaría!

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up vote 1 down vote

A: I hear you're a good dancer.

B: Quisiera serlo

A: Will you help me move this piano?

B: Si es lo que quieres

'Espero' is more as 'wait' than 'wish'. 'Quiero' is more realted with 'wish' and 'need'

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1  
I believe the second use of You wish is meant to be sarcastic. So in the case of Si es lo que quieres (If that's what you want), you'd want to say the opposite of that. – R0MANARMY Nov 17 '11 at 3:34

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