Quiero eso
/kjeɾo eso/from spelling rules
The English phrase "i want that" is Quiero eso in Spanish.
Quiero eso is a direct statement of desire. Because it can sound quite blunt or demanding depending on your tone, it is highly recommended to add por favor for politeness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular present indicative of querer (I want) and the demonstrative pronoun eso (that).
Which one should you use?
Quiero eso refers to something relatively close to the listener or within reach. If you are referring to something much further away from both the speaker and the listener, use Quiero aquello.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo eso/
Did you know?
- The difference between eso and aquello isn't just distance, but also 'psychological distance'. You can use aquello to refer to a distant memory or an idea that you want to distance yourself from emotionally.
- The Latin root of eso, which is ipsum, means 'himself' or 'the same'. This reveals that the word 'that' is linguistically tied to the idea of identity and being the exact same thing.
- While Quiero eso expresses a desire, using the verb querer to ask for objects can sometimes sound as demanding as a child asking for a toy. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is more common to use Me gustaría eso or Quisiera eso to soften the request.
Examples in context
- Quiero eso.I want that.Tatoeba #2110218 by Shishir, translation #2011270 by CK
- Quiero eso para luego.I want that later.Tatoeba #437028 by lukaszpp, translation #437027 by lukaszpp
- ¿Y quién dijo que quiero eso?And who said that I want that?Tatoeba #1596444 by nancy, translation #12919243 by araneo
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are looking at items in a store.
- ElenaMira este libro, Alejandro.Look at this book, Alejandro.
- AlejandroSe ve muy interesante.It looks very interesting.
- ElenaQuiero eso para mi colección.I want that for my collection.
- AlejandroEntonces vamos a comprarlo.Then let's buy it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
