How to Say "was wanting" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “was wanting” is “quería” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Yo quería un helado de chocolate, pero no había.
I wanted a chocolate ice cream, but there wasn't any.
Ella siempre quería ser piloto de aviones.
She always wanted to be an airplane pilot.
Él no quería ir a la fiesta anoche.
He didn't want to go to the party last night.
Imperfect Tense Function
The imperfect tense ('quería') describes past states, ongoing desires, or repeated actions without focusing on when the action started or finished. It sets the scene.
Quería vs. Quiso
Use 'quería' (imperfect) for general wanting or loving. Use 'quiso' (preterite) if the wanting started suddenly, or if it means 'tried to' or 'refused to' (e.g., 'no quiso' means 'refused').
Mixing Up Past Forms
Mistake: “Cuando era joven, quise un coche rojo.”
Correction: Cuando era joven, quería un coche rojo. ('Quería' describes the state of wanting over time; 'quise' implies a single moment of trying or deciding.)
Related Translations
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