quisiera
“quisiera” means “I would like” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I would like
Also: I would want
📝 In Action
Quisiera un café con leche, por favor.
A2I would like a coffee with milk, please.
Quisiera hacer una reserva para dos personas.
A2I would like to make a reservation for two people.
Disculpe, quisiera saber dónde está la estación de metro.
B1Excuse me, I would like to know where the subway station is.
I wish
Also: I would want
📝 In Action
Quisiera ser astronauta, pero es solo un sueño.
B2I wish I were an astronaut, but it's just a dream.
Si tuviera más tiempo, quisiera aprender a tocar la guitarra.
B2If I had more time, I would want to learn to play the guitar.
¡Quién quisiera estar en la playa ahora mismo!
C1I wish I were on the beach right now! (Literally: Who would want to be...)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "quisiera" in Spanish:
i wish→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quisiera
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'quisiera' to make a polite request in a shop?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'querer' (to want), which itself is from the Latin word 'quaerere', meaning 'to seek' or 'to ask for'. 'Quisiera' is a special past form (the imperfect subjunctive) that over time became a very common and accepted way to make polite requests in the present.
First recorded: Evolved from Latin, present in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'quisiera', 'querría', and 'me gustaría'?
They all mean 'I would like' and are very polite ways to make a request. 'Quisiera' is extremely common and often considered the most polite, especially in service contexts. 'Me gustaría' is also very common and friendly. 'Querría' is grammatically correct but is used less often in everyday speech in many regions.
Can I just say 'quiero' instead of 'quisiera'?
You can, but 'quiero' ('I want') can sound very direct or even demanding, especially when talking to a stranger. Using 'quisiera' is a simple way to sound much more polite and respectful.
Is 'quisiera' always 'I'? Can it mean 'he' or 'she'?
Yes! 'Quisiera' can mean 'I would like' or 'he/she/you (formal) would like'. You can tell from the context. For example, 'El señor quisiera un café' means 'The gentleman would like a coffee.'