Quiero esto
/kjeɾo esto/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'I want this' is translated into Spanish as Quiero esto.
Quiero esto is the simplest and most direct translation of 'I want this'. If you wish to be more polite, you can use Quisiera esto to say 'I would like this'. For different levels of desire or nuance, you might use Me gustaría tener esto for 'I would like to have this' or Me encantaría tener esto for 'I would love to have this'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Quiero (I want) and esto (this).
Which one should you use?
Use Quiero esto when referring to an abstract idea or an unidentified object. If you are referring to a specific masculine or feminine noun, you should use Quiero este or Quiero esta instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb querer is conjugated in the first-person singular present indicative as quiero. The word esto is a neuter demonstrative pronoun used to refer to an unspecified object or an abstract idea.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo esto/
Did you know?
- The verb querer does not only mean 'to want' but also 'to love'. Depending on the context and the person being addressed, Te quiero is a common way to say 'I love you'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying Quiero esto in a shop can sound demanding. Many speakers instead use Me das esto which literally means 'Give me this'.
- Spanish has a neuter pronoun esto for things with no known gender. This differs from most other Romance languages which usually force a choice between masculine and feminine.
Examples in context
- Quiero esto.I want this.Tatoeba #6863585 by arh, translation #2011272 by CK
- Quisiera esto, por favorI would like this, please
- ¡Quiero esto, está genial!I want this, it's awesome!
- Quiero esto para mi colección.I want this for my collection.
- No sé si quiero esto.I don't know if I want this.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are shopping for a gift.
- ElenaMira este libro, Javier.Look at this book, Javier.
- Javier¿Te gusta mucho?Do you like it a lot?
- ElenaSí, quiero esto.Yes, I want this.
- JavierEstá bien, vamos a pagarlo.All right, let's pay for it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
