quedara
“quedara” means “remained” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
remained, stayed
Also: was left
📝 In Action
Esperábamos que se quedara a cenar, pero tuvo que irse.
B1We hoped that he would stay for dinner, but he had to leave.
Si no quedara más pastel, ¿qué comeríamos de postre?
B2If there were no cake left, what would we eat for dessert?
Necesitaba que el coche quedara limpio antes del viaje.
B2I needed the car to remain clean before the trip.
arranged to meet, agreed
Also: met up
📝 In Action
Si quedara con ella, ¿dónde irían?
B1If he were to meet up with her, where would they go?
El jefe pidió que la reunión quedara fijada para el lunes.
B2The boss asked that the meeting be set for Monday.
Era vital que quedara claro el plan.
C1It was vital that the plan be made clear (remained clear).
fit, look
Also: suit
📝 In Action
No estaba seguro de que la camisa le quedara bien.
B2I wasn't sure that the shirt would fit him well.
Si el color quedara muy oscuro, podemos cambiarlo.
C1If the color looked too dark, we could change it.
Era necesario que el corte de pelo quedara moderno.
C1It was necessary that the haircut looked modern.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quedara
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quedara' to express a past condition of suitability?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'quedar' comes from the Latin verb *quietare*, meaning 'to quiet down,' 'to rest,' or 'to stay quiet.' This origin explains why the primary sense relates to remaining in a state or location.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'quedar' have two different forms for the Imperfect Subjunctive ('quedara' and 'quedase')?
Both forms, 'quedara' and 'quedase', are completely correct and interchangeable. 'Quedara' (the -ra form) is slightly more common in modern spoken Spanish, but you can use either one depending on your preference or regional habit.
How is 'quedara' different from 'quedaba'?
'Quedaba' is the simple past description (Imperfect Indicative), meaning 'I/he/she used to stay' or 'was staying,' describing a fact. 'Quedara' is the special form (Imperfect Subjunctive), used only when the action of staying is uncertain, wished for, hypothetical, or dependent on a feeling, like 'I hoped that he would stay.'