Translation and learning exercise using ' Querer ' "to want" or "to love."

Question

Phrases Using 'Querer'

Most of the time, querer means "to want" or "to love." However, it is also used in quite a few phrases or idioms whose meanings may not be readily apparent. Following are some of them along with one or two examples each of their usage:

como quiera que: since (in the sense of "because"), given that. Como quiera que ya hemos discutido extensamente las implicaciones de la ley, hoy me gustaría tratar otro aspecto de la cuestión. Given that we have already extensively discussed the implications of the law, today I would like to deal with another aspect of the question. Como quiera que el documento analiza principio por principio, se constituye en una herramienta adicional para entender. Since the document analyzes principle by principle, it is an additional tool for understanding.

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como quiera que sea: in any case, one way or another. Como quiera que sea, el jefe tenía razón. One way or another, the boss was right. Como quiera que sea, lo hecho no merece disculpa. In any case, there's no excusing what was done.

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cuando quiera: whenever. Cuando quiera que haces algo que te hace feliz, tendrás menos probabilidades de recurrir a las drogas. Whenever you do something that makes you happy, you will have a lesser chance of turning to drugs.

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hacer querer: to make attractive or lovable, to endear. No me importa si me hago querer. Sólo me interesa que me respeten. It doesn't matter to me if I make myself liked. I am only interested in people respecting me.

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• no querer (especially in the preterite tense and depending on the context): to refuse to. La actriz no quiso trabajar con él. The actress refused to work with him.

  • querer con locura: to be crazy about. ¡A mi me gusta que me quieran con locura! I love that they're crazy about me.

  • querer decir: to mean. ¡Qué quieres de decir con eso? What do you mean by that? Mi padre no quiso decir lo que dijo. My father didn't mean what he said.

• querer de regreso: to want back. Real España quiere de regreso a Everaldo y Pavón. Real España wants Everaldo and Pavon back.

• Querer es poder: Where there's a will there's a way. If you want to, you can. (This sentence literally means "To want is to be able.")

• si Dios quiere: God willing. Esto terminará muy pronto y, si Dios quiere, muy bien. This will end very soon and, God willing, very well.

• sin querer: accidentally, unintentionally, by mistake. Mientras seguían comiendo, escucharon sin querer la conversación de una mesa aledaña. While they continued eating, they accidentally heard the conversation at a nearby table. Me he enamorado sin querer. I have fallen in love without wanting to.

• sin querer queriendo: to not mean to but also wanting to, accidentally on purpose. La compañía anunció el nuevo videojuego sin querer queriendo. The company "accidentally" announced the new video game.

**Please try and give your own examples in English and Spanish , they do not have to be too elaborate **.

Excellent post Ray! Lots of good, useful information. - dennywells, Feb 16, 2014

Thanks mate we all try , and I am very trying , mom told me. - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Thanks Ray, especially helpfull when both languages are used to explain. Gracias Ray porque se usa los dos idiomas para explicar. - britisk, Feb 16, 2014

Thank you britisk , I think that must be a prerequisite to learning well . - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Of course two languages are better than one Ray. - ian-hill, Feb 16, 2014

Great post,Ray! xo - rac1, Feb 16, 2014

Nice one Ray. I'm so exhausted after wating an entire day car-hunting that I can't think just now. - annierats, Feb 16, 2014

Excellent Post. Thank you. - gringojrf, Feb 16, 2014

Thanks for posting this in both languages Ray...I would be lost otherwise :-) - 007c5fc1, Feb 16, 2014

Answer 1

En la nueva escuela que estamos haciendo, sin querer queriendo, el Ingeniero estructural hizo un deseno fuerte pero lleno de defectos que él posteriormente tuvo que cobrar dinero extra para solucionar.

In the new school that we are building, accidently on purpose, the structural engineer created a design that was strong, but full of defects that he subsequently had to charge an extra fee to resolve.

Sounds very familiar to me mate , sort of inbuilt obsolescence . - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Ola mate! I had to research the phrase and it is a tricky one to understand. Apparently it is often used in a tongue and cheek manor, but seemed to fit this situation. If not, hopefully a native speaker will clarify. - dennywells, Feb 16, 2014

You are doing amazingly well mate,I am sure that an in vogue native will wander by , a wandering and a wondering . - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

It's called a cash grab :-) - 007c5fc1, Feb 16, 2014

Sí, unas viente mil, pero estoy un poco preocupado. que yo metí la pata en la boca. Espero que el nunca vaya a ver este hilo. lol - dennywells, Feb 16, 2014

Answer 2

Hay un trabalenguas en español que dice:

"¿Cómo quieres que te quiera, si el que quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera?"

jaja, no se traducirlo quizás sera algo así:

"How do you want me to love you, if the person I want to love me does not love me like I want to love me?"

Bueno no sera así pero algo parecido jajaja

Fabulous mate I love it . - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Interesting :) And there is also some song: "Como quieres que te quiera si no estas aqui"... - 00b5f6c6, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 3

La necesidad de dejarse querer es universal.

The need to be loved is universal.

Hola amiga xx - ian-hill, Feb 16, 2014

There are two types of loving that we do not do enough of,-love ourselves , and love the unloveable. - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

Of course they may be one and the same , then we are in deep do doo . - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

haha...you have the funniest (but true) answers amigo. Do you think we have to love ourselves? I think we only have to like ourselves..the rest is a given. - 007c5fc1, Feb 17, 2014

Ah Ha ! Indeed , I do not think that one can truly love if one cannot like the recipient of our ardour . Therefore you are correct , if we like enough then love will by its very nature follow. - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 4

Las penas y las alegrías del querer can be exhausting.

The sorrows and joys of love can be exhausting.

But always a labour of love mate , verdad . - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

One much more than the other. - 007c5fc1, Feb 16, 2014

Answer 5

Espero que la vida siga tan bien como antes y ,si Dios quiere , así como mucho tiempo

I hope that life will continue as well as before and, God willing , as long.

I am not sure that i quite understand , the statement appears to be incomplete , also the comma after " and " seams out of place , could you rephrase it for us. - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Sorry Ray. My english is probably not as good as it used to be after years abroad. - britisk, Feb 16, 2014

Anyway, try to imagine that a young person is hoping that life will continue to be as good as it's been to now and will continue to be so for a long time. Seem better ? - britisk, Feb 16, 2014

Perfecto mi amigo , I can be a bit dense on times , no probs mate. - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 6

Estas personas no están dispuestos a dejar la capa de hielo polar detenerlas, querer es poder. Dicho lo cual, tener un rompehielos ayuda también...

These people are not willing to let the polar ice cap stop them. Where there's a will there's a way. That being said, having an ice breaker helps too...

Good one Denny. - britisk, Feb 16, 2014

Thanks:) I guess if they get stuck they can try pulling on the rope. - dennywells, Feb 16, 2014

querer es poder. But maybe not powerful enough to free ice bound ships. :) - ian-hill, Feb 16, 2014

That was incredible good one mate. - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

If she thinks she can do it, she can. - 007c5fc1, Feb 16, 2014

And she will ! - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 7

In answer to your great post Neox.

Sabes que cuando quieres a alguien ,

si tú los quieres más que a ti mismo.

You know when you love someone

if you love them more than you love yourself.

That is so true Ray. I actually had someone ask me once which one I would save in an emergency, him or my dog. It didn't take me long to give him an answer. - 007c5fc1, Feb 16, 2014

Margherite I never ask a lady a question unless I am sure of the answer , that answer for me was a given. - ray76, Feb 17, 2014

Ray, I only answered that way because I knew no one that really loved me would ever ask a question like that. - 007c5fc1, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 8

Cuando llegué a casa después de las vacaciones a mi me quisó con locura el perro.

When I got home after the holidays my dog was crazy about me

It's an awesome feeling isn't it? Someone actually cares that you returned! and without any ulterior motives. - 007c5fc1, Feb 17, 2014

Hola Margherite, yes, and it gives thought to afterthought when you see the face of a dog who has missed you and a tail wagging like a propeller. - britisk, Feb 17, 2014

Answer 9

Cuando juego la lotería siempre quiero de regreso mi dinero

When I play the lottery I always want my money back.

Oh you and me both , i hate losing , so cannot gamble . Great post mate. - ray76, Feb 16, 2014

Answer 10

Las mujeres hermosas

Hay algunos que he amado en mi vida,,

Hay algunos que he estado enamorado de ,

Pero no son necesariamente siempre los mismos,

Quiero amar, la vida es acerca de amar,

Y la variedad es la sal de la vida.

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There are some that I have loved in my life,

and there are some that I've been in love with,

but are not necessarily always the same,

I want to love, life is about loving.

And variety is the spice of life.