queremos
/keh-REH-mohs/
we want
In the present tense, queremos means 'we want' or 'we love.' This image captures the shared desire: 'Queremos un helado' (We want an ice cream).
queremos(Verb)
we want
?expressing a wish or desire for something
we love
?expressing affection for people, pets, or cherished things
📝 In Action
Queremos un helado de chocolate.
A1We want a chocolate ice cream.
Queremos aprender español.
A1We want to learn Spanish.
Queremos mucho a nuestra familia.
A2We love our family very much.
💡 Grammar Points
'queremos' + Thing vs. 'queremos' + Action
You can use 'queremos' to talk about a thing you want ('queremos pizza') or an action you want to do. For actions, just add the basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form of the verb right after: 'Queremos comer'.
Expressing Love with 'queremos a'
When 'queremos' means 'we love' a person or a pet, you need to put a little word 'a' right after it. For example, 'Queremos a nuestro perro' (We love our dog).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'queremos' (we want) and 'nos gusta' (we like)
Mistake: "Queremos la música. (This sounds like you want to buy or possess the music.)"
Correction: Nos gusta la música. (We like the music.) Use 'gustar' to talk about general likes and 'querer' for specific desires.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding More Polite
While 'queremos' is perfectly fine, in a restaurant or store, you can sound a little more polite by using 'quisiéramos' (we would like). For example, 'Quisiéramos una mesa para dos'.
When referring to a specific past action, queremos can mean 'we tried' or 'we attempted' to do something.
queremos(Verb)
we tried
?making an attempt to do something in the past
we refused
?used in the negative ('no queremos') to mean refusal in the past
📝 In Action
Ayer queremos llamarte, pero no teníamos señal.
B1Yesterday we tried to call you, but we didn't have a signal.
No queremos aceptar sus excusas.
B2We refused to accept his excuses.
Le explicamos el problema, pero no queremos entender.
B2We explained the problem to him, but he refused to understand.
💡 Grammar Points
A Special Past Tense Meaning
When you talk about a single, completed action in the past (the preterite tense), 'querer' changes its meaning from 'to want' to 'to try'. For the 'we' form, both the present and this special past tense are spelled 'queremos'.
How to Spot the Difference
You'll know it means 'we tried' or 'we refused' based on the other words in the sentence. Look for clues that place the action in the past, like 'ayer' (yesterday) or another past-tense verb.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using for General Wants in the Past
Mistake: "Cuando éramos niños, queremos ser astronautas. (Incorrect for a general, ongoing desire in the past.)"
Correction: Cuando éramos niños, queríamos ser astronautas. Use the 'imperfect' form ('queríamos') for ongoing wants or desires in the past, not 'queremos'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: queremos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'queremos' to mean 'we tried'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'queremos' means 'we want' or 'we tried'?
Look for context clues! If the sentence talks about something happening now or in the future (like 'ahora' or 'mañana'), it means 'we want'. If it talks about a specific, finished moment in the past (like 'ayer' or 'la semana pasada'), it means 'we tried'.
Is 'queremos' the same as 'quisimos'?
No, they are different past tense forms. 'Queremos' (in the past) means 'we tried' or 'we refused'. 'Quisimos' also comes from 'querer' and means 'we wanted' in the sense that we had a desire at a specific past moment that is now over. It's a subtle but important difference!
Why is the 'we' form ('nosotros') the same in the present and preterite tense for '-er' verbs like 'querer'?
It's a pattern in Spanish! For most regular '-ar' and '-ir' verbs, the 'nosotros' form is the same in the present and the preterite (past) tense. For example, 'hablamos' can mean 'we speak' or 'we spoke'. You always rely on context to know which is which. 'Querer' follows this pattern.