How to Say "wants" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “wants” is “quiere” — use 'quiere' for everyday desires for objects, actions, or states, and also for wanting people (as in liking someone). It's the most common and versatile translation..
quiere
/KYEH-reh//ˈkje.ɾe/
Examples
El niño quiere un juguete.
The boy wants a toy.
¿Quieres ir al cine conmigo?
Do you want to go to the movies with me?
Ella quiere ser doctora.
She wants to be a doctor.
Using 'querer' with another verb
To say you want to DO something, just add the basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form of the second verb right after 'querer'. For example, 'Quiero comer' (I want to eat).
Forgetting the 'e' -> 'ie' change
Mistake: “Yo quero un café.”
Correction: Say 'Yo quiero un café.' In the present tense, for most persons, the 'e' in 'querer' changes to 'ie'.
desea
deh-SEH-ah/deˈse.a/
Examples
Ella desea un café fuerte por la mañana.
She desires a strong coffee in the morning.
¿Usted desea algo de postre?
Do you (formal) want something for dessert?
El director desea revisar el informe antes de la reunión.
The director wishes to review the report before the meeting.
The Meaning of 'desea'
'Desea' is the present tense form used for 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' or the polite way to say 'you' (usted). It tells us what that person wants right now or habitually wants.
Connecting to Another Person's Action (Subjunctive)
If someone 'desea' that another person performs an action, the second verb must change to a special form (the subjunctive). For example: 'Ella desea que tú vayas a la fiesta' (She wants you to go to the party).
Using Indicative After 'Desea que'
Mistake: “Él desea que yo *termino* el trabajo.”
Correction: Él desea que yo *termine* el trabajo. (When expressing desires about someone else, Spanish requires the subjunctive form: *termine*.)
Choosing Between 'Quiere' and 'Desea'
Related Translations
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