Hope vs. Wish

I'm sure you've come across these two verbs in English. What are their differences and similarities anyway? Let's find out, here.

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both of these words refer to one's future desires. However, we use 'wish' to show what someone longs for, but in most cases, it is not possible for them to get what they want. It is just what they think of having, whereas, 'hope' refers to how someone is looking forward to something happening. We mainly use 'hope' when there is a possibility that someone will get the desired result.

Differences

Just as I mentioned above, we use 'hope' when we are certain to some extent that something will happen. There are possibilities that show that particular person will get the result they want. Look below

I hope I leave this planet one day.

The stranger still hopes that his daughter lives.

We use 'wish', on the other hand, when we really want to be somewhere else or to have something, but it is somehow impossible for us. We can just dream about it. Take a look at the following examples:

I wish I knew how to read other people's minds.

You cannot simply sit there and wish, and then expect good things happen to you.

Similarities

Both words are used to show what someone wants, especially for the future. Check out the following examples:

I wish I could change my mom.

Can animals hope something happens to them? Or is it just humans?

Are They Interchangeable?

These two cannot be used interchangeably because one is wanting something that will not happen, whereas the other one is about desiring something that is possible to happen. Compare:

✓ I just wish I had wings like fairies so I could fly high above.

X I just hope I had wings like fairies so I could fly high above.

As you can see, this one does not make sense.

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