Te Quiero or ___ Quiero (what is formal)

Question

If I say, I love you or I want you using querer in the informal context it is te quiero. I get that. But what if I wanted to use the formal form. What is the pronoun that I use.

Answer 1

Lo or la quiero depending on whether you are talking about a man or a woman.

Answer 2

You would never say "le quiero". Its such a complete bottom dweller thing to say. It's like if you were in bed with your wife and you said, "Will you please" do this thing or that thing. That's just not gonna fly. You say "Do this!" Period. You don't go up to a girl and say "le quiero." She'd say, I don't want this guy, he's a wuss. No, you say Te Quiero. You are of my station, and I want you. Period. I want you is never formal, no matter who the woman is or her station in life. I Want You. You are Rich and I am Poor, and I Want You. Lust is not formal.

I agree. You would never say le quiero to someone. Nope. - NikkiLR, Sep 26, 2009

What about in countries where informal "tu" is not used, as in Costa Rica? Only usted form applies. - beesknees79, Oct 2, 2009

Well, it's just our opinion. We are not from Costa Rica, so we don't talk like that. - NikkiLR, Oct 2, 2009

Which is why I asked the question. "Never" is not quite accurate. - beesknees79, Oct 2, 2009

Okay, I just spoke with someone from Costa Rica. They that eso es mentira. They do use 'tu" there. - NikkiLR, Oct 2, 2009

My best friend is Costa Rican and does not use tu. All I'm saying is we don't know if the original question relates to this or not. I think to say it is "never" appropriate is a bit strong. :) - beesknees79, Oct 2, 2009

Okay, let me re-word this...in the sense that ChamacoMalo is talking about, I would never say it that way. - NikkiLR, Oct 2, 2009

Answer 3

You would have to say-

Lo/a quiero a usted or a usted lo/a quiero. You cannot just say lo quiero. They will have no idea who you are talking about. They could take it as I love him/her. I still wouldn't say it though.

Answer 4

Quote from OCBiz Lo or la quiero depending on whether you are talking about a man or a woman.

Quote from ChamacoMalo y Nikkis You would never say "le quiero"

There seems to be some disagreement here. In "te quiero", is the "te" a direct object pronoun or an indirect object pronoun?

If it's a DOP, then OCB is correct that the formal would be lo or la.

But if it's an IOP, then ChamacoMalo is correct that the formal would be le.

¿Qual?