quiera
/kyeh-rah/
want
Quiera is the subjunctive form of 'querer' (to want/love), used to express wishes, hopes, or doubts, such as 'I hope she wants the gift.'
quiera(Verb)
want
?A special form used for wishes, doubts, or suggestions, e.g., 'I hope he wants...'
love / like
?Used for wishes or doubts about affection, e.g., 'I doubt she loves him'
📝 In Action
Espero que ella quiera el regalo.
A2I hope she wants the gift.
No creo que yo quiera ir a la fiesta.
B1I don't think I want to go to the party.
Dígale que pase cuando usted quiera.
B1Tell him to come in whenever you want.
Quizás él no me quiera.
B2Maybe he doesn't love me.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Maybe' Verb Form (Present Subjunctive)
'Quiera' is a special form of 'querer' (to want). You use it when talking about wishes, doubts, or possibilities, not definite facts. Think of it as the 'I hope' or 'what if' form.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'quiere' instead of 'quiera'
Mistake: "Espero que él quiere venir."
Correction: Espero que él quiera venir. The phrase 'espero que' (I hope that) signals a wish, not a fact, so you need the special 'quiera' form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making Polite Suggestions
Using 'quiera' can make requests sound softer and more polite, especially with 'usted'. For example, 'Pase cuando usted quiera' (Come in whenever you'd like) is very courteous.
Quiera is used in phrases like 'donde quiera' (wherever) or 'quien quiera' (whoever), expressing an indefinite choice or location.
📝 In Action
Puedes sentarte donde quiera que haya espacio.
B1You can sit wherever there is space.
Quien quiera puede venir a la reunión.
B1Whoever wants to can come to the meeting.
Hazlo como quiera que te parezca mejor.
B2Do it however seems best to you.
💡 Grammar Points
Creating '-ever' Words
Combine 'quiera' with question words like 'dónde' (where) or 'quién' (who) to make phrases that mean 'wherever' or 'whoever'. It adds a sense of 'any' or 'no matter which'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Puedes ir dónde quiera."
Correction: Puedes ir adonde quiera. (or donde quiera) While the accent is often dropped in modern usage in these phrases, the question word itself is 'dónde'.
⭐ Usage Tips
With or Without 'que'?
You'll often see these phrases as 'donde quiera que' or just 'donde quiera'. Both are correct and mean the same thing. The version with 'que' can sometimes feel a tiny bit more formal.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quiera
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quiera' to express a wish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'quiera' and 'quisiera'?
Great question! Both are special forms of 'querer'. 'Quiera' is used for present wishes or doubts (e.g., 'Espero que quiera' - 'I hope he wants'). 'Quisiera' is often used to make very polite requests, like saying 'I would like...' (e.g., 'Quisiera un café' - 'I would like a coffee'). Think of 'quiera' as 'I hope he wants' and 'quisiera' as 'I would like'.
Why don't I just say 'quiere' after 'espero que'?
In English, we use the same verb form for facts ('He wants') and wishes ('I hope he wants'). But Spanish has a special 'mood' for things that aren't certain reality, like wishes, doubts, and emotions. Phrases like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'no creo que' (I don't think that) act as signals that you need to switch to this special form, which is 'quiera'.