quiero
“quiero” means “I want” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I want
Also: I would like
📝 In Action
Quiero un café con leche, por favor.
A1I want a coffee with milk, please.
Quiero aprender a tocar la guitarra.
A1I want to learn to play the guitar.
¿No quieres venir al cine con nosotros?
A2Don't you want to come to the movies with us?
I love
Also: I care for, I'm fond of
📝 In Action
Te quiero mucho, abuela.
A2I love you very much, grandma.
Es mi mejor amigo, lo quiero como a un hermano.
B1He's my best friend, I love him like a brother.
Sus padres se quieren mucho.
A2Her parents love each other very much.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quiero
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'quiero' to mean 'I love'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'quaerere', which meant 'to seek, to ask for, or to look for'. Over time, the idea of 'seeking' something softened into 'wanting' or 'desiring' it.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'te quiero' and 'te amo'?
'Te quiero' is the most common way to say 'I love you' and is used for family, friends, and romantic partners. It's about deep affection and care. 'Te amo' expresses a more profound, passionate, and often romantic love. Think of 'te quiero' as 'I love you/I care for you' and 'te amo' as 'I am in love with you'.
Is it rude to say 'quiero' when ordering food?
It's not exactly rude, but it can be very direct, like saying 'I want' in English. To sound more polite and natural, many people use 'quisiera' ('I would like'), 'me gustaría' ('I would like'), or 'me pones' ('Can I have...'). But if you're a beginner, everyone will understand 'quiero' perfectly fine!
Why does the verb 'querer' change from 'e' to 'ie' (quiero) but not in 'nosotros' (queremos)?
'Querer' is a 'stem-changing' verb. For many of these verbs, the spelling change happens when the spoken stress falls on that part of the word ('quiE-ro'). In the 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all) forms, the stress moves to the ending ('que-RE-mos'), so the stem doesn't need to change. It's a pattern you'll see in many other verbs like 'entender' and 'pensar'!