The Present Subjunctive of Derretir is used when expressing desires, doubts, or uncertainties about something melting, 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 (Latin American Spanish):

The present subjunctive of derretir is used to express wishes, desires, demands, or uncertainty about the action of melting or liquefying something.

To express a wish or desire: For example, Ojalá que el hielo se derrita pronto (I hope the ice melts soon). Quiero que el chocolate se derrita en la leche caliente (I want the chocolate to melt in the hot milk).

To express a demand or recommendation: For example, Es necesario que la mantequilla se derrita antes de mezclarla con los otros ingredientes (It’s necessary for the butter to melt before mixing it with the other ingredients). Te recomiendo que derritas el queso a fuego lento (I recommend you melt the cheese over low heat).

To express uncertainty or doubt: For example, Dudo que la cera se derrita con este calor (I doubt the wax will melt in this heat). No creo que el hielo se derrita tan rápido (I don’t think the ice will melt that fast).

Slang/Idiomatic: Derretirse can also mean “to be extremely attracted to someone” in a colloquial sense, for example, Me derrito cada vez que lo veo (I melt every time I see him).

Examples

Examples of Derretir in the Subjunctive Mood

Espero que el calor del sol derrita la nieve antes de que llegue la primavera. (I hope the heat of the sun melts the snow before spring arrives.)

Aunque no lo creas, es posible que el fuego derrita el acero. (Although you may not believe it, it’s possible for fire to melt steel.)

Ojalá que el calentamiento global no derrita los glaciares de la Antártida. (Hopefully, global warming doesn’t melt the glaciers in Antarctica.)

Es fundamental que no derritan los cubitos de hielo en el vaso de whisky. (It’s essential that they don’t melt the ice cubes in the glass of whiskey.)

Temo que el intenso calor del desierto derrita las llantas de nuestro vehículo. (I fear the intense desert heat might melt the tires on our vehicle.)

Ojalá que el sol derrita la escarcha de las ventanas antes de que salgamos. (Hopefully, the sun melts the frost off the windows before we leave.)

Es importante que no derritan las velas de la iglesia durante la misa. (It’s important that they don’t melt the candles in the church during mass.)

Temo que el calor del horno derrita el plástico de los moldes. (I’m afraid the oven heat might melt the plastic on the molds.)

Es fundamental que no derritan el hielo seco con agua caliente. (It’s essential that they don’t melt the dry ice with hot water.)

Ojalá que el sol de verano no derrita el helado en el congelador. (Hopefully, the summer sun doesn’t melt the ice cream in the freezer.)

Conjugations with English Translations

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

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian 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.