Inklingo

How to Say "to linger" in Spanish

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quedarme

keh-DAR-meh/keˈðaɾme/

verbA1informal
Use 'quedarme' when you mean to stay in a place or situation for a longer time than expected, often implying a choice or preference.
A cheerful person sitting relaxed in an armchair inside a room next to a window, illustrating the act of staying.

Examples

Prefiero quedar en casa en vez de salir hoy.

I prefer to stay at home instead of going out today.

Necesito tiempo para pensar si quiero quedarme aquí o irme.

I need time to think about whether I want to remain here or leave.

¿Puedo quedarme a dormir en tu sofá esta noche?

Can I stay and sleep on your couch tonight?

The attached 'me'

The ending '-me' means 'myself' or 'for me'. When attached to the end of a verb like 'quedarme', it means the action of staying is directed back toward the speaker ('I').

Placement Rule

In compound verb phrases (like 'voy a + infinitive' or 'quiero + infinitive'), you can either attach the 'me' to the end (quiero quedarme) or put it before the conjugated verb (me quiero quedar). Both are correct!

Forgetting the 'me'

Mistake: “Cuando voy a visitar, yo quiero quedar en la casa.”

Correction: Cuando voy a visitar, yo quiero quedarme en la casa. (If you forget the 'me,' the verb 'quedar' means 'to meet' or 'to be left over,' not 'to stay.')

detenerte

/deh-teh-NEHR-teh//deteˈnerte/

verbB1
Use 'detenerte' when you mean to spend extra time focusing on or analyzing something, often to the point of delaying progress, like dwelling on details or mistakes.
A child looking closely at a single small flower in a garden.

Examples

No vale la pena detenerte en esos pequeños errores.

It's not worth lingering/dwelling on those small mistakes.

Al leer el contrato, debes detenerte en cada cláusula.

When reading the contract, you should pause at every clause.

Using 'en' with this meaning

When you want to say 'to dwell ON' or 'to linger ON', use the word 'en' after 'detenerte'.

Lingering vs. Dwelling

Learners often confuse 'quedarme' and 'detenerte' by using 'quedarme' when they mean to dwell on something. Remember, 'quedarme' is about the act of staying longer, while 'detenerte' is about focusing excessively on details or thoughts.

Related Translations

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