Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| quedar | /keˈdaɾ/ |
| permanecer | /peɾmaneˈθeɾ/ /peɾmaneˈseɾ/ |
In Spanish, these verbs are used to express remaining in a particular place. quedar is the most common choice for everyday conversation and can also be used to describe where something is located or how something results. permanecer is used to indicate staying or remaining in a specific place for an extended period. For more permanent living arrangements, the verb residir is used.
Which one should you use?
quedar is the common way to say 'to stay' in daily speech, whereas permanecer is a more formal or literary way to express the idea of remaining in a certain state or place.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express the act of staying oneself, such as 'I stay' or 'he stays', Spanish speakers frequently use the reflexive form quedarse rather than just quedar.
How do you pronounce it?
/keˈdaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to use the reflexive pronoun when they mean 'to stay'. Instead of saying quedo en casa, it is more natural to say me quedo en casa.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, quedar is used not only for staying but also to make plans or appointments with friends.
- The Spanish verb quedar is actually a linguistic relative of the English word 'quit'. They both trace back to the same ancestral roots meaning 'to rest' or 'to be at peace'.
- While permanecer means to stay, its Latin root maneo is also the ancestor of the English word 'mansion'.
Examples in context
- Me quedaré en casa.I will stay at home.This sentence uses quedar to express a future intention of staying at home.Tatoeba #885672 by Shishir, translation #256483 by CK
- No me puedo quedar.I can't stay.This sentence uses quedar to express an inability to stay.Tatoeba #2353293 by Shishir, translation #1954912 by CK
- Tom se debe quedar.Tom has to stay.This sentence uses quedar to express an obligation to stay.Tatoeba #2968542 by marcelostockle, translation #2272752 by CK
- ¿Dónde se queda?Where are you staying?
- ¿En qué hotel va a pasar la noche?Which hotel are you staying in tonight?
- Nos vamos a hospedar en un hotel en la playa.We are going to stay at a hotel on the beach.
- Permanezco en casa de mi abuela durante las vacaciones.I stay at my grandmother's house during vacations.
- Voy a quedarme en el hotel por dos noches.I'm going to stay at the hotel for two nights.
- Mi hermano se queda en esa casa durante el verano.My brother stays in that house during the summer.
- Mis amigos y yo nos estamos hospedando en un apartamento.My friends and I are staying at an apartment.
- 602 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are deciding whether to leave a social event.
- María¿Te quieres quedar un rato más?Do you want to stay a while longer?
- MateoNo, prefiero irme ya.No, I prefer to leave now.
- MaríaEstá bien, yo me voy a quedar.Alright, I am going to stay.
- MateoQue te diviertas, María.Have fun, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stay” translations and entries quedar, permanecer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries permanecer, quedar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
