quieres
“quieres” means “you want” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you want
Also: do you want
📝 In Action
¿Quieres un vaso de agua?
A1Do you want a glass of water?
Si quieres, podemos ir al cine.
A2If you want, we can go to the movies.
No sé qué quieres hacer esta noche.
A2I don't know what you want to do tonight.
you love
Also: you care for
📝 In Action
Eres mi mejor amigo, te quiero mucho.
A2You're my best friend, I love you a lot.
¿Me quieres de verdad?
A2Do you really love me?
Claro que te quiero, pero como amigo.
B1Of course I care for you, but as a friend.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quieres
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'quieres' to mean 'you love'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'quaerere', which meant 'to seek' or 'to ask for'. Over time, the meaning of seeking something shifted to desiring or wanting it.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the verb change from 'querer' to 'quieres'?
In Spanish, verbs change their endings to show who is doing the action. The '-es' ending on 'quieres' is the special ending for 'tú' (the informal 'you'). This is similar to how English adds an '-s' for 'he/she' (he wants).
Is it rude to say 'Quiero...' when I'm at a restaurant?
It can sound a little too direct or demanding. It's not exactly rude, but it's much more polite to say 'Quisiera...' (I would like...) or 'Me gustaría...' (I would like...). Save 'quiero' for when you're talking with friends and family.
What's the difference between '¿Qué quieres?' and '¿Qué deseas?'
'¿Qué quieres?' is very common and used every day. '¿Qué deseas?' means the same thing ('What do you wish/desire?') but it sounds much more formal. You might hear a waiter or a shopkeeper say '¿Qué desea?', but you'd usually use '¿Qué quieres?' with a friend.