"quedar" really confuses me

Question

Quedar, to me, just says "to remain" but I see it used a lot.

I just found another example that read "we are meeting at the movies." "hemos quedado en el cine" What are the difference in using "quedar" I really don't know when to use it in a sentence by myself.

It has masses of meanings. Have you not got a dictionary? - annierats, Dec 28, 2012

Great question. It´s come up a lot, but I´m surprised not even more. I think maybe because people don´t initially realize how broad it is, and assume whatever context they´ve heard it in is the only, or at least main one.. Big topic. - rogspax, Dec 29, 2012

Answer 1

In spain people use quedar referring they are going to meet in somewhere for example. Quedaremos mañana en el parque (We'll meet tomorrow at the park). Now in Latin America it is used to refer something that remains.

Nice to know. So how would you translate the given sentence using "to meet"? "We have met at the movies."? - gringojrf, Dec 29, 2012

Hemos quedado en el cine.. - MarcosHazel, Dec 31, 2012

Nos hemos encontrado en el cine. - MarcosHazel, Dec 31, 2012

Answer 2

What annie said. Have you got a dictionary? Quedar is used for all the things mentioned so far, and a least one more major one (to be located or situated at) and seemingly, about 100 other uses. To my mind, it is the most broadly used verb in Spanish. I swear, just a few days ago, I wondered if Spanish couldn´t maybe reduce their total verb count to 7, with quedar replacing the vast majority of former verbs. Spanish speakers amusingly try to confuse us by using it for everything, much like a poor cook covers everything with salt and bacon (wait, that´s me!)

Seriously, it´s a verb worth actually spending some time reading all the dictionary entrries for, just to get a feel for the scope. You´ll see it a LOT more, in lots of places talking about remaining, location, or simply being at. Quedar is the Universal-Donor Type O-negative of verbs.

Buena suerte.

I agree...read the dictionary and look for many examples. - --Mariana--, Dec 29, 2012

@Rogspax, I love the analogy to blood types! - sinmeta, Dec 31, 2012

Answer 3

Quedar is used in many ways...

• ¿Queda azúcar? = Is there any sugar left?

• Le gusta quedar bien con todo el mundo = He likes to keep everyone happy

• Voy a quedarme aquí una noche = I'm going to stay here one night.

• El trabajo ha quedado perfecto = The job turned out perfectly

• Ese vestido te queda bien = That dress looks good on you.

• (Spain) He quedado con Juan esta noche = I've arranged to meet Juan this evening

• ¿Por dónde queda? = Whereabouts is it?

Answer 4

Quedar is one of the Spanish verbs that has so many different meanings depending on context. It is confusing to English speakers in a similar way to the confusion our English verb, "get" is to Spanish speakers trying to learn English. There are a few of these verbs (echar is another one) that just take a lot of time to study and figure out how to use the more you hear it.

Very good analogy. I wish I´d thought of it. ;) Get and Quedar are what software folks or linguists would call overloaded symbols. Just used so broadly as to defy easy initial learning.. Super well said Katy. - rogspax, Dec 29, 2012

And now that you mention it, I am indeed starting to notice Echar, and note that I don´t understand it - rogspax, Dec 29, 2012

If you think "quedar" is confusing, look up "poner" - padrin, Dec 29, 2012

Answer 5

Are you sure of your translation? I would say that it means "we have stayed/been at the movie theater"

Mom asks: Were have you been? You answer: Hemos quedado en el cine..

Answer 6

It's one of those words that can have many different meanings depending on context, and there are idioms (modismos) which use it for different meanings.

Examples:

Quédese con la vuelta = keep the change (coins, money)

¿A cuánto queda la estación desde aquí? = How far is the station (located) from here?

Te queda ese vestido muy estrecho = That dress fits you very tightly.

But yes, the literal meaning of quedar is to remain or to be left, such as: Quedan tres toallas = there are three towels left (three towels remain).