Palabra Lexi · common words in Spanish
How to say "to want" in Spanish
"To want" in Spanish is querer, pronounced keh-REHR (stress on the syllable in capitals). Its dictionary meaning: to want, to love.
| Spanish | querer |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | keh-REHR |
| Meaning | to want, to love |
| Part of speech | verb |
| Frequency | #47 in the Palabra list of common Spanish words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Spanish voice.
How to pronounce querer
Querer is pronounced keh-REHR, in IPA /keˈɾeɾ/. Querer has two syllables, keh-REHR, with the stress on the second. There is no written accent because the word follows the basic rule: words ending in a consonant other than -n or -s are stressed on the last syllable.
- Qu is a plain k; the u is silent.
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Spanish voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Example sentences
Quiero pan fresco
I want fresh bread
Te quiero
I love you
Quiero comprarlo
I want to buy it
"To want" in Spain and Latin America
Querer also means to love a person: te quiero.
Useful phrases
- Quiero un café.
I want a coffee. - Quisiera…
I would like… (more polite)
Regional words and roots: Diccionario de la lengua española (RAE). Spanish varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember querer
querer [keh-REHR] sounds like the English “carer”. Picture this:
The carer wants only one thing: that everyone is tucked in, fed, and smiling.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice querer
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.