How do you say 'I want you' in Spanish?

Question

"I want you" literally comes out to "te quiero" which is "I love you" so how would you say simply, "I want you"?

Which - Eddy, Dec 22, 2010

Answer 1

As a complete expression: "I want you" = "Te deseo"

'Deseo' refers to 'I wish'. - Seb79, Dec 22, 2010

However, if I want to say 'I want you to have a good holiday', I could use 'te deseo'....... - Seb79, Dec 22, 2010

"Te deseo" as a complete expression is only "a ti". - MarissaPR, Dec 22, 2010

Answer 2

"I want you"

Impossible to answer fully without further context. The sentence, as it stands, means the same thing in English as "I desire you." (or "I lust after you" for soap opera addicts). However, if that is the beginning of a sentence (as opposed to the entire sentence), then there are many other possibilities.

If you want a clear answer you need to ask a clear question.

Yes exactly, you have to include what you want him/her for other wise it just looks like you are saying that you love them which in some cases could be embarrasing. - kenwilliams, Dec 23, 2010

Answer 3

There are other "I want you's".

I want you to know

I want you to do it

etc.

Although Eddy is right...it depends on the context. - Seb79, Dec 22, 2010

And the context is lacking, thus one can only guess at the intended meaning (or refrain from answering). - samdie, Dec 22, 2010

Answer 4

Maybe there should be an automatic thing that refers these questions to a list of phrases of love/passion. It seems like they make up half the questions.

Yes...I agree - Seb79, Dec 22, 2010

Answer 5

No it isn't. Te amo means I love you, and te quiero means I want you.

Te quiero is often used to convey the same meaning as Te amo. - kenwilliams, Dec 22, 2010

Answer 6

Te busco might work as the verb buscar is often used in this sense: Se buscan dependientes = Shop assistants wanted.

Answer 7

In Spain, te quiero means I love you as te amo is generally seen as kind of too much.

Answer 8

Cómo te quiero! = "How I love you" and / or "How I want you" - here in Bolivia at least.