Spanish - May 2, 2023

How To Say "Want" In Spanish

If you are learning Spanish, you may find yourself wondering how to say "want" in Spanish. Whether you are traveling to a Spanish-speaking country or simply trying to communicate with Spanish speakers in your community, knowing how to express your desires is essential. In this article, we will explore the meaning of "want" in Spanish, provide different translations and regional variations, and give you practical examples of how to use it in sentences.

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What is "Want" in Spanish?

The verb "to want" in Spanish is "querer" (IPA: /ke.ˈɾeɾ/). The word "want" is often used to express a desire or a wish, and querer is the most common verb to convey this meaning. Querer is a regular -er verb, meaning it follows the same conjugation patterns as other verbs ending in -er. Here is the present tense conjugation of querer, along with its phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):

Yo quiero (IPA: /ˈkjeɾo/)
Tú quieres (IPA: /ˈkjeɾes/)
Él/Ella/Usted quiere (IPA: /ˈkjeɾe/)
Nosotros/Nosotras queremos (IPA: /keˈɾemos/)
Vosotros/Vosotras queréis (IPA: /keˈɾeis/)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes quieren (IPA: /ˈkjeɾen/)

Meaning of "Want" in Spanish

In addition to expressing desires, querer can also mean "to love" or "to like" someone or something. For instance, when you say "Quiero a mi familia" (I want my family), it can also mean "I love my family". Similarly, querer can be used to express a preference, as in "¿Quieres ir al cine o al teatro?" (Do you want to go to the cinema or the theater?) In this context, it could also mean "Do you prefer to go to the cinema or the theater?".

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Translating "Want" to Spanish

To translate "want" to Spanish, you can use the verb "querer" in the appropriate tense:

I want: Yo quiero (IPA: /ʝo ˈkje.ɾo/)
You want (informal): Tú quieres (IPA: /tu ˈkje.ɾes/)
He/She wants: Él/ella quiere (IPA: /el/ˈe.ʝa ˈkje.ɾe/)
We want: Nosotros queremos (IPA: /noˈsotɾos keˈɾe.mos/)
You want (formal): Ustedes quieren (IPA: /usˈte.des ˈkje.ɾen/)
They want: Ellos quieren (IPA: /ˈe.ʝos ˈkje.ɾen/)

Regional Differences

Like any language, Spanish can vary in vocabulary and grammar depending on the region. In some countries or regions, you may hear different words or phrases for "want". Here are a few examples:

In Mexico, gustar (IPA: /ɡusˈtaɾ/) is often used to express liking or preference. So instead of saying "Quiero el café con leche" someone from Mexico might say "me gusta el café con leche".
In some parts of Spain, "querer" is used more for romantic love than for general desires. In these regions, you might hear "me apetece" or "me gustaría" instead of "quiero" to express wanting something.
In some Latin American countries, necesitar (IPA: /neθesiˈtaɾ/) is used instead of "querer" to express a strong desire or need. So instead of saying "Quiero un coche" (I want a car.), someone from these regions might say "Necesito un coche" (I need a car.)

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