quieren
“quieren” means “they want” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they want, you want
Also: do they want...?
📝 In Action
Ellos quieren un café.
A1They want a coffee.
¿Ustedes quieren ir a la playa mañana?
A1Do you all want to go to the beach tomorrow?
Mis padres quieren que estudie más.
A2My parents want me to study more.
they love, they are fond of
📝 In Action
Mis padres se quieren mucho.
A2My parents love each other very much.
Los niños quieren a su abuela.
A2The children love their grandmother.
Todos mis amigos me quieren como soy.
B1All my friends love me as I am.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quieren
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quieren' to mean 'they love each other'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'quaerere', which meant 'to seek, to ask for, or to desire'. Over time, its meaning in Spanish softened to simply 'to want' and also took on the sense of affection or 'love'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `quieren` and `quisieran`?
`Quieren` means 'they want' in a direct, present-tense way. `Quisieran` is a softer, more polite form that translates to 'they would like'. You'll often hear `quisiera` used in restaurants to sound more polite: 'Quisiera un vaso de agua' (I would like a glass of water).
Can I use 'quieren' for objects, like 'My plants want water'?
Not really. In Spanish, 'querer' implies a level of consciousness or desire that objects don't have. For plants, you would say 'Mis plantas necesitan agua' (My plants need water). Using 'quieren' would sound like you're personifying them in a poetic or childish way.