quería
/keh-REE-ah/
I wanted
Illustrating 'I wanted': The boy's intense gaze shows his past desire for the toy.
quería(Verb (conjugated))
I wanted
?Past desire or intention (Yo form)
,he/she/it wanted
?Past desire or intention (Él/Ella form)
I used to want
?Repeated desire in the past
,was wanting
?Past continuous state
📝 In Action
Yo quería un helado de chocolate, pero no había.
A1I wanted a chocolate ice cream, but there wasn't any.
Ella siempre quería ser piloto de aviones.
A2She always wanted to be an airplane pilot.
Él no quería ir a la fiesta anoche.
A2He didn't want to go to the party last night.
💡 Grammar Points
Imperfect Tense Function
The imperfect tense ('quería') describes past states, ongoing desires, or repeated actions without focusing on when the action started or finished. It sets the scene.
Quería vs. Quiso
Use 'quería' (imperfect) for general wanting or loving. Use 'quiso' (preterite) if the wanting started suddenly, or if it means 'tried to' or 'refused to' (e.g., 'no quiso' means 'refused').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Up Past Forms
Mistake: "Cuando era joven, quise un coche rojo."
Correction: Cuando era joven, quería un coche rojo. ('Quería' describes the state of wanting over time; 'quise' implies a single moment of trying or deciding.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Past Intentions
You can use 'quería' to talk about plans or intentions you had that were not fulfilled: 'Quería llamarte, pero se me olvidó' (I wanted to call you, but I forgot).
Illustrating 'I loved': The warm hug between the woman and the dog represents a feeling of past affection.
quería(Verb (conjugated))
I loved
?Past affection (Yo form)
,he/she loved
?Past affection (Él/Ella form)
cared for
?Showing deep affection
📝 In Action
Mi abuela quería mucho a ese gato.
A2My grandmother loved that cat very much.
Yo no sabía cuánto la quería hasta que se fue.
B1I didn't know how much I loved her until she left.
💡 Grammar Points
The Personal 'a'
When 'querer' means 'to love' and the object is a person or pet, you must use the word 'a' before the person: 'Yo la quería a ella'.
Illustrating 'I would like': The polite gesture at the cafe suggests a gentle request.
quería(Verb (conjugated))
I would like
?Polite request in the present (Yo form)
I was hoping for
?When introducing a desire cautiously
📝 In Action
Quería preguntar si tienen una mesa libre.
B1I would like to ask if you have a free table.
Yo quería un vaso de agua, por favor.
B1I would like a glass of water, please.
💡 Grammar Points
Politeness Softener
Using the imperfect tense ('quería') for a current request is a common trick in Spanish to make the request sound less demanding, like you are framing it as a past desire.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use in Restaurants
In service situations, 'quería' is a very polite and common way to order, often preferred over the simple present 'quiero' (I want), which can sound too direct.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quería
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quería' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'quería' used more for 'want' or 'love'?
'Quería' is used for both. When referring to objects or actions, it almost always means 'wanted' ('quería un coche'). When referring to people, it usually means 'loved' or 'cared for' ('quería a su madre').
Why is 'quería' sometimes translated as 'would like'?
Spanish uses past tenses (like the imperfect 'quería') to make requests sound less direct and more courteous. It’s a way of being polite, similar to how English uses the conditional ('I would like').