Quiero saber
/kjeɾo sabeɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "i wanna know" is translated into Spanish as Quiero saber.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular present indicative of querer (to want) and the infinitive saber (to know).
Which one should you use?
Use Quiero saber for facts or information, but use Quiero conocer if you mean "I want to get to know" a person, a place or a topic through experience.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific fact or piece of information previously mentioned, you can add the direct object pronoun lo to the end of the infinitive to form Quiero saberlo (I want to know it).
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo sabeɾ/
Did you know?
- The Latin root of saber actually meant 'to taste'. Over time the meaning shifted from the physical act of tasting to the mental act of knowing.
- The verb querer can also mean 'to love' in certain contexts, so Quiero saber is strictly about information and cannot be a romantic declaration.
- The grammatical structure of Quiero saber allows the speaker to omit the word 'I' entirely because the ending of quiero already identifies the subject.
Examples in context
- Quisiera saber si habrá una reunión mañana.I would like to know if there will be a meeting tomorrow.
- Me gustaría saber cómo llego al museo.I would like to know how to get to the museum.
- Quiero saber qué vamos a hacer este fin de semana.I wanna know what we're going to do this weekend.
- Quiero saber qué pasó.I want to know what happened.
- Quiero saber la verdad.I want to know the truth.
- Quiero saber qué pasó ayer.I want to know what happened yesterday.
- Quiero saber dónde vives.I want to know where you live.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a mystery in a book they are reading.
- LucíaQuiero saber quién es el culpable.I want to know who the culprit is.
- JavierYo también, pero el libro es muy largo.Me too, but the book is very long.
- Lucía¡Es que quiero saber el final ya!It's just that I want to know the ending now!
- JavierTen paciencia, Lucía.Have patience, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries saber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
