querías
“querías” means “you wanted” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
you wanted
Also: you were wanting, you used to want
📝 In Action
Me dijiste que querías ir al cine.
A2You told me that you wanted to go to the movies.
Cuando eras pequeño, querías un perro, ¿verdad?
B1When you were little, you wanted a dog, right?
you loved
Also: you were fond of, you cared for
📝 In Action
Sé que querías mucho a tu perro.
A2I know that you loved your dog very much.
Siempre me tratabas bien porque me querías de verdad.
B1You always treated me well because you truly cared for me.
would you like
Also: I was wondering if you wanted
📝 In Action
Perdona, ¿querías algo más?
B1Excuse me, would you like anything else?
Hola, buenas. Quería dos cafés para llevar, por favor.
A2Hi, good morning. I would like two coffees to go, please.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: querías
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'querías' to make a polite request in the present?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'quaerere', which meant 'to seek, ask, or inquire'. Over time, the meaning of 'seeking' something shifted to 'wanting' something.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
So if 'querías' is a past tense, why do people use it to order a coffee now?
Think of it as a cultural trick for being polite. By using a past tense, you're creating a little distance and making your request sound less like a direct demand. It's like saying in English, 'I was wondering if I could get a coffee...' instead of 'I want a coffee.' It's very common and sounds natural to native speakers.
What's the difference between `querías` and `quisiste`?
`Querías` describes a state of wanting in the past, like a background feeling ('As a kid, you wanted to be a pilot'). `Quisiste` refers to a specific moment or a completed action of wanting or trying ('Yesterday, you wanted/tried to go to the party, but you couldn't').