querían
“querían” means “they wanted” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they wanted, you (all) wanted
Also: they were wanting
📝 In Action
Ellos querían ir al cine todos los sábados.
A1They wanted to go to the cinema every Saturday.
Cuando éramos niños, solo querían jugar.
A2When we were children, they only wanted to play.
Ustedes no querían aceptar el trato, ¿verdad?
B1You all didn't want to accept the deal, right?
they loved, they cared for
Also: they adored
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos se querían mucho cuando eran jóvenes.
A2My grandparents loved each other very much when they were young.
Ellas querían a sus mascotas como si fueran sus hijos.
B1They loved their pets as if they were their children.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: querían
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of the imperfect tense in the sentence: 'Los niños querían galletas, pero no había.'
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'querer' comes from the Latin verb *quaerere*, which originally meant 'to seek' or 'to ask for.' Over time, the meaning evolved in Spanish to mean 'to wish for' or 'to desire,' and eventually, 'to love.'
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 10th-12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'querían' sound like 'they wanted' and not 'they loved'?
In most everyday contexts, 'querer' means 'to want.' However, when talking about people or beloved pets, it means 'to love' or 'to care for.' The meaning relies entirely on the context of the sentence.
How is 'querían' different from 'quisieron'?
'Querían' (imperfect) describes a general, ongoing desire or love in the past (e.g., 'They used to want it'). 'Quisieron' (preterite) describes a completed action, usually meaning 'They tried to get it' or 'They suddenly wanted it' at one specific moment.