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A friendly character is settled comfortably on a soft couch in a cozy, colorful living room, reading a book, clearly indicating they are staying put.

quédese

KAY-deh-seh

verbA1pronominal (reflexive) ar
Stay?as a polite, formal command,Remain?as a polite, formal command
Also:Keep (it)?when referring to an object someone is holding

Quick Reference

infinitivequedarse
gerundquedándose
past Participlequedado

📝 In Action

Señor López, por favor, quédese aquí hasta que vuelva el doctor.

A1

Mr. Lopez, please, stay here until the doctor returns.

No se preocupe por el cambio, quédese con él.

A2

Don't worry about the change, keep it (remain with it).

Si quiere, quédese a cenar con nosotros.

A1

If you want, stay and have dinner with us.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • permanezca (remain (formal command))
  • deténgase (stop (formal command))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • Quédese tranquilo/a – Stay calm
  • Quédese en línea – Please hold (on the phone)

💡 Grammar Points

Formal Command Structure

This word is the 'usted' (formal singular) command form of the verb 'quedarse.' It is used when addressing a person you don't know well or someone you want to show respect to.

Pronoun Attachment

In Spanish affirmative commands, the little helper word ('se') goes attached to the end of the verb. This is why the verb form 'quede' turns into 'quédese'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing the Accent

Mistake: "Quedese"

Correction: Quédese. When you attach a pronoun to a command like this, the accent mark is necessary to keep the stress on the original syllable (que-de-se), otherwise, it would sound like 'que-DE-se'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Politeness Marker

Always use 'quédese' instead of the informal 'quédate' (tú) when speaking to elders, superiors, or in a professional environment.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedse queda
yome quedo
túte quedas
ellos/ellas/ustedesse quedan
nosotrosnos quedamos
vosotrosos quedáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedse quedaba
yome quedaba
túte quedabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesse quedaban
nosotrosnos quedábamos
vosotrosos quedabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedse quedó
yome quedé
túte quedaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesse quedaron
nosotrosnos quedamos
vosotrosos quedasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedse quede
yome quede
túte quedes
ellos/ellas/ustedesse queden
nosotrosnos quedemos
vosotrosos quedéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedse quedara
yome quedara
túte quedaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesse quedaran
nosotrosnos quedáramos
vosotrosos quedarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: quédese

Question 1 of 2

Which English phrase best captures the tone and meaning of 'Quédese tranquilo'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

quedarse(to stay, to remain) - verb
quedar(to be left, to fit, to arrange) - verb
quedada(a planned meeting or get-together) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'quédese' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is needed because 'quédese' is a command with the pronoun 'se' attached. The mark ensures that the stress stays on the first syllable (KAY-deh-seh), just like the base command 'quede' would be stressed.

What is the difference between 'quédese' and 'viva'?

'Quédese' means 'Stay' or 'Remain' (a command to not move or leave). 'Viva' is the command form of 'vivir' (to live), meaning 'Live!' or 'Long live!'