English can be confusing—especially when two words look almost the same.
Today’s spotlight is on “perfer” vs “prefer.” Many people type perfer by mistake when they actually mean prefer. You might see it in text messages, school assignments, emails, or even online comments.
The good news?
Only one of these words is correct in English. The other one is a spelling mistake.
In this guide, you will learn:
- The meaning of prefer
- Why perfer is never correct
- The key difference between prefer and perfer
- How to use prefer correctly in simple sentences
- Memory tricks to never confuse them again
By the end of this article, even a 4th-grade student can confidently choose the right word every time.
Let’s simplify English… one tiny confusion at a time!
✅ What Do the Words Mean?
1. “Prefer” — (✔ Correct Word)
Part of speech: Verb (action word)
Meaning: To like something more than another thing.
👉 When you choose A instead of B, you prefer A.
Examples of “prefer”:
- I prefer tea over coffee.
- She prefers reading instead of watching TV.
- They prefer sitting near the window.
2. “Perfer” — (✘ Incorrect Word)
Meaning: This word does NOT exist in English.
❌ You will never find “perfer” in a dictionary.
❌ It has no meaning.
❌ It is simply a common spelling mistake of “prefer.”
Why do people type perfer?
Because it looks similar, and sometimes our fingers move faster than our brains while typing.
✅ The Key Difference Between Perfer and Prefer
| Word | Correct / Incorrect | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prefer | ✅ Correct English word | To like one thing more than another | “I prefer chocolate ice cream.” |
| Perfer | ❌ Incorrect spelling | No meaning (spelling mistake) | ❌ “I perfer chocolate ice cream.” |
Quick Tip to Remember
➡ “Prefer” has an e after the r (“pre-fer”).
➡ Think of it like: Pre + fer → You are prepared (pre) to choose (fer).
Or even easier:
🔹 Prefer = Perfect spelling
🔹 Perfer = Error
✅ Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Here are mistakes people make when typing prefer:
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct |
|---|---|
| I perfer staying home. | I prefer staying home. |
| She perfers vanilla. | She prefers vanilla. |
| Do you perfer tea or coffee? | Do you prefer tea or coffee? |
Why does the mistake happen?
- Fingers mix up the r and e
- People type fast and don’t check spelling
- Autocorrect sometimes accepts the wrong word
✅ Solution:
Say this in your mind while typing:
➡ “I prefer the correct spelling.”
✅ When to Use Prefer
Use prefer when you want to show that you like one thing more than another.
Formula to remember
Prefer + noun + to + noun
Example:
- ✅ I prefer apples to oranges.
Or you can use a verb:
Prefer + verb-ing
Example:
- ✅ I prefer reading at night.
Real-life examples (easy sentences):
- I prefer cold weather.
- She prefers sitting in the front row.
- They prefer playing outside after school.
- My dad prefers tea over coffee.
- We prefer traveling by train.
✅ When to Use Perfer
Never.
There is no situation where “perfer” is correct.
If you see someone using “perfer,”
👉 they meant prefer.
Memory Hack:
❌ Perfer = Per (Error)
✅ Prefer = Perfect
✅ Quick Recap: Prefer vs Perfer
- Prefer = correct (verb; means “to like more”)
- Perfer = incorrect spelling
- Use prefer in sentences where you choose something.
Easy Reminder:
Prefer = I prefer the right spelling.
✅ Advanced Tips (For strong English learners)
- Prefer comes from the Latin word praeferre, meaning “to put before.”
- In formal writing, avoid saying “I like.”
Instead, say “I prefer.”
Example in an essay:
Instead of: “I like online learning.”
Use: “I prefer online learning because it saves time.”
Also, avoid writing:
❌ I prefer to more stay at home.
✅ I prefer staying at home.
✅ Mini-Quiz (Test Yourself!)
Fill in the blanks with prefer (not perfer).
- I ______ reading instead of playing games.
- She ______ rice over bread.
- Do you ______ tea or juice?
- My parents ______ traveling by car.
- They ______ staying indoors when it rains.
(Answers: prefer, prefers, prefer, prefer, prefer)
✅ FAQs (Great for SEO & Featured Snippets)
1. Is perfer a real word?
No. Perfer is not a real English word. The correct spelling is prefer.
2. What does prefer mean?
It means to like something more than something else.
3. How do you use “prefer” in a sentence?
Example: I prefer pizza over burgers.
4. Why do people type “perfer”?
It happens due to fast typing or auto-correction errors.
5. Is it “prefer to” or “prefer than”?
Always use prefer + to
✅ I prefer tea to coffee.
❌ I prefer tea than coffee.
✅ Conclusion
English becomes much easier when you understand small but important differences.
Today, you learned that:
- Prefer is the correct spelling.
- Perfer is always wrong — a spelling mistake.
- Use prefer to show that you like something more.
Just remember one simple rule:
You always prefer the correct spelling.
Keep practicing, use the sample sentences, and try the quiz again later. The more you write, the more confident you will become.
Small habits turn into big improvements—
and choosing the right word is a powerful step toward strong English skills.

Eley Williams writes clear, engaging guides on confusing words and phrases, helping readers understand meanings, differences, and correct usage with ease.