Querer vs Desear

Question

Desea has a definition of "want, desire, wish" or something very similar.

Querer has a definition of "want"

Since I do not see "desea" used very often, it appears to me that "desea" is just a "wish", or a "desire", but not strong enough to be a "want"

Thx for your input

Answer 1

Querer and desear are similar in their meanings of want or desire.

However querer has other special meanings.

It can mean "to love" as in "I love you a lot." Te quiero mucho. (This is for people not things. Querer with things definitely means to want.)

In the preterite , affirmatively it means "try/attempt."

Pedro quiso aprender chino. Pedro tried to learn Chinese.

In the negative it means "refused" María no quiso casarse con José. María refused to marry José

Now with all that said and done, let me add that "querer" is more commonly used for "to want" then desear. Desear I consider the "polite" verb.

I hope I didn't drown you in information. I usually try to keep things short.

Daniel - Another thoughtful, educational reply. Thank you very much. Pedro de MX - peteneri, Oct 20, 2015

A vote would be appreciated. - Daniela2041, Oct 20, 2015

I gave you one , not to him coz he never gives them. We here call it "Taco Bill". - ray76, Oct 20, 2015