A quick answer, which probably won't cover all the possible meanings, is that "wish" is for things that are less likely to happen or are more of a fantasy, whereas "hope" is for something that is more likely to happen. I'm sure I'll get blasted for this description but that's the first that comes to mind. Oh I wish I could fly Oh how I wish you were here I hope there's some pizza left I hope I pass the exam After I wrote these sentences, it seems like hope is for something that already exists or is an action that has started already. Here's another distinction, maybe you'll figure it out from these examples. "I wish to win a lottery" - you have a desire to win, in the future, it's one of the three requests you'd have for the magic goldfish to make come true for you "I hope I win a lottery" - you bought a ticket and now you're waiting, hoping that you hit the jackpot.

Hope is used when you talk about possible things in the past, present, and future that you want to happen. They have to be possible though. 1. I hope that they can find their lost dog. (It is possible that they will be able to find the dog if they keep looking.) 2. I hope that I can study in Japan next year. (It is possible because you might have the money to go there and you might get into a college there.) 3. I hope that they can visit me this fall. (They are talking about coming to visit and it is possible since they might have to money to do it.)

When you say "wish" it is means that you want something but it is opposite to current reality or is impossible. For instance, 1. I wish that he would study Spanish more. (opposite of reality: It means "He doesn't study Spanish that often and I want him to study it more often.") 2. I wish that I made more money. (opposite of reality: It means "I want to make more money than I do now.") 3. I wish that I could find a mobile app that allows me to edit my Google docs. (currently impossible: It means "I want a mobile app that allows me to edit my Google docs but I can not find one." ) 4. I wish that he would make it here on time. (opposite of reality: It means "He never gets here on time and I want him to.") 5. I wish that I could be on the basketball team this year but my grades aren't good enough. (impossible because your grades don't meet the requirements. It means "I want to be on the basketball team but my graders aren't good enough so I can't be on the team.) 6. I wish I had a motorcycle. (opposite of reality: It means "I don't have a motorcycle and I want one.") Wish can be used to express regret too. For instance, 1. I wish I had gone to the movies with them. = I didn't go to the movies with them and now I regret it. 2. I wish I had bought that XBOX 360 when it was on sale. = I didn't buy the XBOX 360 when it was on sale and now I regret it. 3. I wish we had met up earlier so we could have hung out more. = We didn't meet up earlier and now we don't have any more time to hang out, which I regret deeply.

"Two" words are confusing me. What do the words "wish" and "hope" mean? Both words are pretty similar. A wish is when you desire for something to happen. When you "hope' for something you are feeling an expectation or desire for a certain thing to happen. Example: I wish I could win this car. I wish it would stop raining. I wish for world peace. I hope everything will be okay. I hope they are happy together. I hope her car is clean.

Are there two different words for these meanings in your native language too?