quise
“quise” means “I tried” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I tried
Also: I wanted, I refused
📝 In Action
Quise llamarte, pero no tenía batería.
B1I tried to call you, but I had no battery.
No quise ofenderte con mi comentario.
B1I didn't mean (I refused) to offend you with my comment.
De repente, quise un helado de chocolate.
A2Suddenly, I wanted a chocolate ice cream.
I loved
Also: I cared for
📝 In Action
Fue mi primer amor y la quise mucho.
A2She was my first love and I loved her a lot.
Siempre quise a mi abuela.
B1I always loved my grandmother.
Tuvimos ese perro por diez años, y lo quise como a un hijo.
B2We had that dog for ten years, and I loved him like a son.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quise
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence best means 'I tried to help, but I couldn't'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Quise' comes from its base verb 'querer', which traces back to the Latin word 'quaerere'. 'Quaerere' meant 'to seek, ask for, or strive for', which you can still see in the modern Spanish meanings of wanting something or trying to do something.
First recorded: 10th century (as 'querer')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest difference between 'quise' and 'quería'?
Think of it like this: 'Quise' is for a specific moment or a completed action. 'Quise un café' means 'I wanted a coffee' (and probably got it or decided against it). 'Quise llamarte' means 'I tried to call you'. On the other hand, 'quería' is for an ongoing state in the past. 'Quería un café' means 'I was wanting a coffee' (describing your mood). 'Quería ser doctor' means 'I used to want to be a doctor' (an ongoing desire in your childhood).
If 'no quise' means 'I refused', how do I just say 'I didn't want to'?
For the general feeling of not wanting something in the past, 'no quería' is usually the best choice. For example: 'No quería ir a la fiesta porque estaba cansado' (I didn't want to go to the party because I was tired).