Meaning and Usage
The verb querer is a common Spanish verb that means to want or to love, depending on the context. It is often used to express desires, wishes, or affection towards people or things. As a verb, it can function both as an action verb meaning "to want" and as an emotional verb meaning "to love," especially in informal or familiar situations.
Verb Type
Querer is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the regular conjugation patterns of -er verbs in Spanish. It is also a stem-changing verb, where the "e" in the stem changes to "ie" in certain forms.
Present Tense Conjugation
Below is the conjugation of querer in the present tense. Notice the stem change (e → ie) occurs in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | quiero | I want / I love | Yo quiero un café. | I want a coffee. |
| tú | quieres | you want / you love | ¿Quieres venir conmigo? | Do you want to come with me? |
| él/ella/usted | quiere | he/she/you want / loves | Ella quiere mucho a su familia. | She loves her family a lot. |
| nosotros/as | queremos | we want / we love | Nosotros queremos viajar. | We want to travel. |
| vosotros/as | queréis | you (plural) want | Vosotros queréis aprender español. | You all want to learn Spanish. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | quieren | they/you (plural) want/love | Ellos quieren ir al cine. | They want to go to the cinema. |
Past Tense (Preterite) Conjugation
The simple past or preterite is also irregular in querer. It expresses completed actions of wanting or loving.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | quise | I wanted / I loved | Ayer quise ayudarte. | Yesterday I wanted to help you. |
| tú | quisiste | you wanted / loved | ¿Quisiste hablar con ella? | Did you want to talk to her? |
| él/ella/usted | quiso | he/she/you wanted/loved | Él quiso comprar el libro. | He wanted to buy the book. |
| nosotros/as | quisimos | we wanted / loved | Quisimos salir temprano. | We wanted to leave early. |
| vosotros/as | quisisteis | you (plural) wanted | Quisisteis llamar a tus padres. | You all wanted to call your parents. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | quisieron | they/you (plural) wanted/loved | Ellos quisieron quedarse. | They wanted to stay. |
Other Common Uses
Besides expressing wants and love, querer can also be used in polite requests or to express intention, often in combination with other verbs in the infinitive. For example, Quiero comer means "I want to eat."
Related Expressions
- Te quiero – “I love you” (less formal, often used among family, friends, or romantic partners)
- Querido/a – “Dear” (used as a term of endearment or in letters)
- Querer decir – “To mean” (literally “to want to say”)
Summary
The verb querer is essential in Spanish for expressing desires and affection. Its irregular stem changes and conjugations are important to learn for effective communication in present and past contexts.
