quédate
“quédate” means “stay” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
stay
Also: be still
📝 In Action
Por favor, quédate aquí conmigo.
A1Please, stay here with me.
Quédate a cenar, he preparado paella.
A2Stay for dinner, I've made paella.
¡Quédate quieto un momento!
A2Stay still for a moment!
keep it
📝 In Action
Quédate el cambio, es para ti.
A2Keep the change, it's for you.
Si te gusta el libro, quédate con él.
B1If you like the book, keep it.
Puedes usar mi paraguas, quédatelo hasta que pare de llover.
B1You can use my umbrella, keep it until it stops raining.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "quédate" in Spanish:
be still→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quédate
Question 1 of 2
A friend offers you a pen and you want to say 'Keep it'. What do you say?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'quedar', from the Latin word 'quiētāre', which meant 'to quiet' or 'to rest'. The '-te' is the pronoun for 'you' (tú), attached directly to the command form.
First recorded: The base verb 'quedar' appeared in texts around the 12th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'queda' and 'quédate'?
'Quédate' is a direct command to *you* (informal 'tú') telling you to stay. 'Queda' on its own can mean 'it remains' or 'there is left' (e.g., 'queda un pastel' - there is one cake left). So, to tell a person to stay, you need to add the 'te'.
How do I say 'stay' to my boss or an older person?
For formal situations (addressing 'usted'), you would use 'quédese'. For example, 'Quédese el tiempo que necesite' means 'Stay as long as you need'.
Why is there an accent mark on 'quédate'?
When you attach a pronoun like 'te' to the end of a command, it adds an extra syllable. The accent mark is added to keep the stress on the correct part of the original verb ('que-'), so the pronunciation stays natural.