I meant to say....

Question

If I said the wrong thing, or wanted to clarify what I did say, how would I say, "I meant to say...." or "I wanted to say...."

I checked the translator and it said, "Quise decir...."

Is that correct?

For example, if I wanted to say, "I meant to say, 'It's no good.'"

Would that be, "Quise decir, 'Es no bueno.'"?

Thanks for your help.

I would say "Quería decir".. but I am not native so let's wait! - rabbitwho, Sep 13, 2011

The reason I am guessing that is that quise tends to mean that you tried to do something but you didn't do it. - rabbitwho, Sep 13, 2011

Pardon, rabbitwho, but I think it's "quería" (imperfect form) for something you wanted to do, but *DIDN'T* while "quise" (preterite form) is for something you wanted to do and *DID*; however, "no quise" is something you didn't want to do and refused to do - Goldie_Miel, Sep 13, 2011

Oh, and I agree: "Quería decir".... - Goldie_Miel, Sep 13, 2011

Answer 1

Yo diría algo así: "Lo que quería decir era que no es bueno"

Answer 2

I've heard that with "quierer" usually you use the past on going tense which would be "Yo quería" or in english "I wanted" or "I was wanting". But your word order doesn't sound right in the next phrase. It should be "no es bueno". So I would say, "Quería decir, 'no es bueno'" but you could also say: "mejor dicho" (english: "better said") or "intentaba decir" (english: "I meant/intended to say ") ...just some ideas!

Answer 3

I always hear "Quiero decir..." - but that's just me.

I think that means... "I mean..." or is used something like "I am trying to say" ... Which is almost the same so I guess you could use it in the same places :) - rabbitwho, Sep 13, 2011

You're right. I notice however that present tense in many cases does not limit the sense of meaning to the lliteral present time. - pesta, Sep 13, 2011