quisiste
“quisiste” means “you wanted” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you wanted
Also: you tried, you intended
📝 In Action
¿Por qué no viniste? Yo te llamé, pero no quisiste contestar.
A2Why didn't you come? I called you, but you didn't want (or refused) to answer.
Tú quisiste ir al cine, pero yo preferí quedarme en casa.
A1You wanted to go to the cinema, but I preferred to stay home.
Ella dijo que quisiste ayudar, pero llegaste tarde.
B1She said that you tried to help, but you arrived late.
you loved
Also: you cared for
📝 In Action
Ella me dijo que tú la quisiste mucho cuando eran niños.
B1She told me that you loved her very much when you were children.
No sé por qué te fuiste, si tú me quisiste.
B2I don't know why you left, if you loved me.
En ese momento, quisiste a tu mascota más que a nadie.
A2In that moment, you loved your pet more than anyone.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quisiste
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'No quisiste abrir la puerta'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'querer' comes directly from the Latin verb *quaerere*, which meant 'to seek, to look for, or to ask'. Over time, the meaning evolved in Spanish to focus less on the physical searching and more on the internal desire or wish.
First recorded: 10th century (as 'querer')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'quisiste' so irregular?
Many of the most important Spanish verbs (like 'querer', 'hacer', 'tener', 'venir') have unique, irregular patterns in the simple past tense. 'Quisiste' is part of the irregular group that uses the 'u' sound in the stem, which makes it easier to pronounce quickly.
How do I know if 'quisiste' means 'you wanted' or 'you loved'?
Look at the context. If 'querer' is followed by another verb (e.g., 'quisiste ir'), it means 'you wanted/tried'. If it's followed by a person or pet (e.g., 'quisiste a tu hermana'), it means 'you loved/cared for'.