quejarse
/keˈxaɾse/
To complain in Spanish is translated as quejarse. Wiktionary also lists alegar and querellarse.
Meaning: to express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| quejarse | /keˈxaɾse/ |
| alegar | /aleˈɡaɾ/ |
| querellarse | /keɾeˈʝaɾse/ |
The verb quejarse is used to express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction or resentment.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends heavily on the context of your complaint. Use quejarse for general or emotional expressions of dissatisfaction. Use alegar when you are making a formal or legal claim or allegation. Use querellarse specifically within a legal context, such as when you are filing a formal criminal complaint or a lawsuit.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because quejarse is a reflexive verb, you must use a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) when conjugating it, such as in the form se queja to mean he or she complains. Additionally, quejarse is almost always followed by the preposition de when you are specifying the object of the complaint (to complain about something).
How do you pronounce it?
/keˈxaɾse/
Did you know?
- The verb quejarse is a doublet of cascar. While quejarse evolved to mean complaining, cascar shifted to mean breaking something or chatting incessantly.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the expression quejumbrosa describes a person who complains in a whining or singing tone, focusing on the sound rather than the grievance.
- A person who complains constantly might be called a quejica. This is a colloquial term used primarily in Spain to describe someone who is a perpetual whiner.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo se atreve a quejarse?How dare he complain?This sentence shows how to use quejarse in a question about someone's audacity.Tatoeba #482067 by Shishir, translation #29966 by Eldad
- Tom no tiene de qué quejarse.Tom has nothing to complain about.This sentence uses quejarse to show that someone has no reason to be dissatisfied.Tatoeba #1619579 by hayastan, translation #1025322 by CK
- Ella no hace más que quejarse.She does nothing but complain.This sentence uses quejarse to describe someone who does nothing else but complain.Tatoeba #737954 by Shishir, translation #316732 by CK
- El cliente se quejó del servicioThe client complained about the service.
- Me quiero quejar sobre el trato recibido en este hotelI want to complain about the treatment received in this hotel.
- Los pasajeros se quejan de los retrasos constantes en los vuelosThe passengers complain about the constant flight delays.
- Voy a reclamar un reembolso por este producto defectuosoI am going to claim a refund for this defective product.
- Voy a presentar una queja formalmente ante el departamento de atención al clienteI am going to formally lodge a complaint with the customer service department.
- El consumidor presentó una queja por el mal estado del productoThe consumer filed a complaint about the poor condition of the product.
- Me quejo constantemente del ruido vecinalI constantly complain about the noise from the neighbors.
- Mis amigos se quejan del mal servicio en ese restauranteMy friends complain about the bad service at that restaurant.
- Siempre me quejo de que el transporte público siempre está llenoI always complain that public transportation is always crowded.
- Protesté ante la falta de profesores en la universidadI complained about the lack of teachers at the university.
- Le eché una bronca a mi hermano por no ayudar en casaI complained/scolded my brother for not helping at home.
- Mi mamá me echó una bronca por llegar tardeMy mom complained/scolded me for arriving late.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “complain” translations and entries quejarse, alegar, querellarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alegar, quejarse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
