How to Say "we refused" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “we refused” is “queremos” — B1 level.
Examples
Ayer queremos llamarte, pero no teníamos señal.
Yesterday we tried to call you, but we didn't have a signal.
No queremos aceptar sus excusas.
We refused to accept his excuses.
Le explicamos el problema, pero no queremos entender.
We explained the problem to him, but he refused to understand.
A Special Past Tense Meaning
When you talk about a single, completed action in the past (the preterite tense), 'querer' changes its meaning from 'to want' to 'to try'. For the 'we' form, both the present and this special past tense are spelled 'queremos'.
How to Spot the Difference
You'll know it means 'we tried' or 'we refused' based on the other words in the sentence. Look for clues that place the action in the past, like 'ayer' (yesterday) or another past-tense verb.
Using for General Wants in the Past
Mistake: “Cuando éramos niños, queremos ser astronautas. (Incorrect for a general, ongoing desire in the past.)”
Correction: Cuando éramos niños, queríamos ser astronautas. Use the 'imperfect' form ('queríamos') for ongoing wants or desires in the past, not 'queremos'.
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