How to Say "to complain" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to complain” is “quejarse” — use 'quejarse' when expressing general dissatisfaction or unhappiness about something specific, often a recurring issue..
quejarse
/keh-HAR-seh//keˈxaɾse/
Examples
Siempre se queja de la comida en la escuela.
He always complains about the food at school.
No me quejo, la vida me va muy bien.
I'm not complaining, life is going very well for me.
Si no te gusta el servicio, deberías quejarte con el gerente.
If you don't like the service, you should complain to the manager.
The Reflexive Pronoun
This verb is always used with 'reflexive pronouns' (me, te, se, nos, os). Even if you aren't complaining 'to yourself,' these little words are required for the verb to work.
The preposition 'de'
In English, you complain 'about' something. In Spanish, you almost always use 'de' to connect the verb to the thing you dislike.
Forgetting the 'se' pronouns
Mistake: “Yo quejo del frío.”
Correction: Me quejo del frío. (You must include 'me' for the verb to be correct.)
Using 'sobre' instead of 'de'
Mistake: “Se queja sobre su jefe.”
Correction: Se queja de su jefe. (While 'sobre' is understood, 'de' is the natural choice for complaints.)
protestar
/pro-tes-TAR//pɾotesˈtaɾ/
Examples
El niño empezó a protestar porque no quería irse a la cama.
The boy started to complain because he didn't want to go to bed.
No sirve de nada protestar; la decisión ya está tomada.
It's no use objecting; the decision has already been made.
Los vecinos protestan por el ruido de la construcción.
The neighbors are complaining about the construction noise.
Using 'por' for the reason
When you want to say WHY you are complaining, use the word 'por'. For example: 'Protesto por el mal servicio' (I'm complaining about the bad service).
Don't confuse with 'quejarse'
Mistake: “Using 'protestar' for every tiny physical pain.”
Correction: Use 'protestar' for vocalizing disagreement with a situation. Use 'quejarse' for physical pain or constant whining (e.g., 'Me quejo de la espalda').
reclamar
/reh-klah-MAHR//reklaˈmar/
Examples
Fui a la tienda para reclamar por un producto defectuoso.
I went to the store to complain about a defective product.
El jugador reclamó al árbitro por el penalti.
The player protested to the referee about the penalty.
No sirve de nada reclamar si no tienes el recibo.
It's no use complaining if you don't have the receipt.
Complaining 'About' Something
When you complain about a specific reason or thing, use the word 'por'. For example: 'Reclamo por el mal servicio' (I am complaining about the bad service).
Formal Tone
While 'quejarse' is often a general or personal complaint, 'reclamar' implies you are looking for a solution or a formal correction of a mistake.
Overusing Quejarse
Mistake: “Saying 'Me quejo de la factura' at a bank.”
Correction: Say 'Quiero reclamar esta factura'. 'Reclamar' is the professional way to initiate a dispute or correction.
Quejarse vs. Reclamar
Related Translations
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