What does the verb "querer" mean? How is it different from regular verbs like "hablar"?

Question

What does the verb "querer" mean? How is it different from regular verbs like "hablar"?

Answer 1

"Querer" is a verb with two distinct meanings.

When used with a verb or with a noun (things not humans) It means to want.

"Quiero aprender español" "I want to learn Spanish."

"Quiero una nueva computadora para la Navidad." "I want a new computer for Christmas."

When used with names or "people words" it means "to love."

"Mi amor, te quiero mucho" "My love, I love you very much"

"Quiero mucho a mi familia." "I love my family very much."

Querer differs from regular verbs somewhat in that it is a "stem-changing" verb. That is the the stem "quer" changes to "quier" in certain positions. Here is the whole enchilada.

Yo quiero

tú quieres

él, ella, usted quiere

Nosotros queremos----note: no stem change here.

Vosotros queréis-----------none here either.

ellos, ellas, ustedes quieren.

There are a few other meanings and usages. This is the short, short version.

I hope this helps.

Chau,

:) - sanlee, Dec 3, 2014

Thanks, Sandy, but my first post was flawed. I usually have to go through 3 or 4 edits to get it right! - Daniela2041, Dec 3, 2014

Yo también, ayer tuvé uno con 21 revisiones - sanlee, Dec 3, 2014

Answer 2

Welcome to SpanishDict. You can type these into the dictionary here.

querer

Click below and scroll down to the verbs.

Spanish grammar