quejarse
“quejarse” means “to complain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to complain
Also: to whine, to grumble
📝 In Action
Siempre se queja de la comida en la escuela.
A2He always complains about the food at school.
No me quejo, la vida me va muy bien.
B1I'm not complaining, life is going very well for me.
Si no te gusta el servicio, deberías quejarte con el gerente.
B1If you don't like the service, you should complain to the manager.
to groan
Also: to moan, to creak
📝 In Action
El paciente se quejaba de un fuerte dolor en la pierna.
B2The patient was groaning from a strong pain in his leg.
Oí a alguien quejarse en la otra habitación.
B2I heard someone groaning in the other room.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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Words that translate to "quejarse" in Spanish:
to complain→to creak→to groan→to grumble→to moan→to whine→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quejarse
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'I complain about the heat'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'quassare', which means 'to shake' or 'to shatter.' It evolved to describe the 'broken' voice of someone in pain or lamenting.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'quejar' without the 'se'?
No, in modern Spanish, 'quejar' is strictly a reflexive verb. You always need the pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, or se.
What is the difference between 'queja' and 'quejido'?
A 'queja' is a complaint (often verbal or written about a problem), while a 'quejido' is the physical sound of a groan or moan.
Is 'quejica' an insult?
It is informal and slightly negative. It's like calling someone a 'whiner' or 'grumbler.' It's often used lightheartedly between friends but can be rude to a stranger.