quiero una manzana
/kjeɾo una manθana/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I want an apple" is translated into Spanish as quiero una manzana.
A statement used to express a desire to have or eat a specific piece of fruit.
What does it mean word for word?
quiero means "I want", una means "an" or "one" and manzana means "apple".
Which one should you use?
Use quiero una manzana to express a desire for a single apple, whereas quiero manzanas would mean "I want apples" (plural).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can say Quiero tomar una manzana to mean "I want to have an apple". In Mexico, Se me antoja una manzana is used to express I crave an apple.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word quiero is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb querer (to want). Because manzana is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine indefinite article una to agree with it.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo una manθana/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word manzana is used to describe a 'city block' as well as the fruit.
- The word manzana originates from 'māla mattiānum', referring to a specific variety of apple bred by Gaius Matius, a Roman horticulturist and friend of Julius Caesar.
- While quiero means 'I want', the verb querer also means 'to love' when used to describe a feeling for a person.
Examples in context
- Discúlpeme, ¿podría darme una manzana, por favor?Excuse me, could you please give me an apple?
- Tengo hambre. ¿Me puedes dar una manzana?I'm hungry. Can you give me an apple?
- Me gustaría tomar una manzana de postre.I would like to have an apple for dessert.
- Se me antoja una manzana.I'm in the mood for an apple.
- Quiero una manzana roja.I want a red apple.
- Solo quiero una manzana para el postre.I only want an apple for dessert.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are at a fruit market.
- Alejandro¿Qué te gustaría comer, Lucía?What would you like to eat, Lucía?
- LucíaQuiero una manzana, por favor.I want an apple, please.
- AlejandroMuy bien, yo también quiero una manzana.Very well, I want an apple too.
- LucíaEntonces busquemos las más dulces.Then let's look for the sweetest ones.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manzana, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
