The Subjunctive Mood of Derretir is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about the melting of something, for example: Espero que el hielo se derrita pronto. (I hope the ice melts soon.)

Derretir is an e to i stem-changing verb, meaning the e in the verb stem changes to i in certain conjugations. This pattern is common among Spanish verbs.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

Derretir generally means to melt or liquefy, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

Literal meaning: To cause something solid to become liquid, for example, Espero que el calor derrita la mantequilla (I hope the heat melts the butter).

Figurative meaning: To cause someone to become very emotional or sentimental, for example, Que la música derrita sus corazones (May the music melt their hearts).

Slang meaning: To become extremely tired or exhausted, for example, Después de trabajar todo el día, que me derrita en la cama (After working all day, may I melt into the bed).

Idiomatic meaning: To spend money excessively or wastefully, for example, Ojalá que no derrita su dinero en tonterías (Hopefully they don’t melt their money on nonsense).

Examples

Examples of Derretir in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que el hielo derrita lentamente para que el proceso sea seguro. (It’s important that the ice melts slowly so that the process is safe.)

Ojalá que el calor del sol derrita la nieve de las montañas. (Hopefully the heat from the sun melts the snow on the mountains.)

Para hacer las paletas, necesitamos que derritas el caramelo primero. (To make the popsicles, we need you to melt the caramel first.)

El chef recomienda que derritan la mantequilla a fuego lento. (The chef recommends that they melt the butter over low heat.)

Tal vez derritáis demasiada cera y por eso se derramó. (Maybe you all melted too much wax and that’s why it spilled.)

Dudo que la vela derrita tan rápido con este frío. (I doubt the candle will melt that quickly in this cold.)

Temo que si derritan demasiado metal, dañen el horno. (I’m afraid that if they melt too much metal, they’ll damage the oven.)

Ojalá que no derritas los hielos demasiado rápido o se calentará la bebida. (I hope you don’t melt the ice cubes too quickly or the drink will get warm.)

Sería bueno que derritáis un poco de chocolate para hacer una fondue. (It would be nice if you all melted some chocolate to make a fondue.)

Dudo que derritan suficiente hielo para la escultura antes de que anochezca. (I doubt they’ll melt enough ice for the sculpture before nightfall.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.