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"Querer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to want", and "poner" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put". Learn more about the difference between "querer" and "poner" below.
querer(
keh
-
rehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to want
Quiero comer chocolate.I want to eat chocolate.
a. to love
Ella todavía te quiere profundamente.She still loves you deeply.
b. to like
El perro te quiere mucho.The dog likes you a lot.
c. to be fond of
Quiero mucho a mis estudiantes.I am very fond of my students.
a. to mean
No sé si quisiste ofenderme, pero lo lograste.I don't know if you meant to offend me, but you did.
b. to try
Hace años que quiero ir a París, pero es demasiado caro.I've been trying to go to Paris for years, but it's too expensive.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. beloved
Llora por el hombre que fue su querer.She cries for the man that was her beloved.
b. love
El primer querer siempre es el más fuerte.First love is always the deepest.
a. love affair
Cuando salió a relucir su querer, el gobernador renunció.When his love affair was exposed, the governor resigned.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to want
Estaré en casa todo el fin de semana así que llama cuando quieras.I'll be home all weekend so call when you want.
quererse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
reciprocal verb
a. to love each other
Dejaron de quererse.They no longer love each other.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to love oneself
Necesitas empezar a quererte más.You need to learn to love yourself more.
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poner(
poh
-
nehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to put
¿Dónde pones las llaves?Where do you put the keys?
b. to add
Si pones más peso, se romperá.If you add more weight, it will break.
2.
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
(figurative)
(to cause to be)
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
a. to put on
Después de bañar a la bebé, hay que ponerle ropa limpia.After giving the baby a bath, you have to put some clean clothes on her.
a. to put
Es lógico que pongan allí un colegio nuevo.It makes sense to put a new school there.
a. to send
El mensaje que le puso era simple.The message he sent her was simple.
a. to give
Mi profesor me puso mala nota.My professor gave me a bad grade.
a. to lay
Las gallinas ponen un huevo al día.Hens lay one egg a day.
a. to put in
Podemos alquilar ese sitio si todos ponemos algo de dinero.We can rent the place if everybody puts in some cash.
a. to put on
Pon la televisión para ver las noticias.Put the television on to watch the news.
b. to turn on
¿Ponemos la calefacción?Shall we turn the heating on?
a. to call
Si tengo un niño le pondré Manuel, que es el nombre de mi padre.If I have a boy, I'll call him Manuel, which is my father's name.
b. to give
¿Qué nombre le van a poner a la niña? - Todavía no lo sabemos.What name are you going to give your baby? - We don't know yet.
a. to open
Sandy y su esposo van a poner una panadería en la calle principal.Sandy and her husband are going to open a bakery on main street.
ponerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to get
No te pongas impaciente conmigo cuando no has hecho nada para ayudar.Don't get impatient with me when you haven't done anything to help.
b. to be
No te pongas triste, cariño. Todo se arreglará.Don't be sad, sweetie. Everything will work out.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Me pongo furiosa con pensarlo.It makes me mad to think about it.
El perro siempre se pone feliz al verte.The dog's always happy to see you.
a. to turn
Se pone blando cuando se cocina.It turns soft when cooked.
a. to put on
Ponte la gabardina, está lloviendo.Put your raincoat on. It's raining.
a. to wear
Ya nunca me pongo ese vestido porque se ha quedado muy anticuado.I don't wear that dress anymore because it's very old-fashioned.
a. to move
Ponte un poco más a la derecha.Move a little more to the right.
a. to set
El sol se pone y entonces cae la noche.The sun sets and then night falls.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.