quedarse
/kedaɾse/from spelling rules
To stay in Spanish is quedarse.
The verb quedarse is used to express the idea of remaining in a particular place instead of leaving.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the pronominal form quedarse and the non-reflexive form quedar. While quedarse is used for a person remaining in a place, the form quedar is used to say that something is located somewhere or that something is left over.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and some Latin American countries, when you are specifically referring to staying in a hotel or other accommodation, you should use hospedarse or alojarse.
How does it change in a sentence?
quedarse is a pronominal verb, which means it is used with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to indicate the subject is staying themselves. For example, when conjugating the verb in the third person singular, the reflexive pronoun se is used, as in se queda.
How do you pronounce it?
/kedaɾse/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the phrase quedar con alguien is the standard way to say you are meeting up with a friend, though the word literally relates to 'staying' or 'remaining'.
- When someone is stunned or shocked into silence, Spanish speakers say they se quedan de piedra, which literally means they 'stay as stone'.
- The phrase quedarse en blanco is used when someone's mind goes blank or they suddenly forget what they were saying.
Examples in context
- Tom tiene que quedarse.Tom has to stay.This sentence shows how to use quedarse to express an obligation.Tatoeba #7382318 by UsuarioX, translation #2272752 by CK
- Quedarse en casa es aburrido.It's boring to stay at home.This sentence uses quedarse as a subject to describe staying at home.Tatoeba #1322002 by Shishir, translation #1046425 by CK
- Lo mejor es quedarse en casa.It's best to stay home.This sentence uses quedarse to express a recommendation about staying home.Tatoeba #8668415 by arh, translation #9189355 by DJ_Saidez
- Me quedaré en casa hoy.I will stay at home today.
- El cliente se quedó en el hotel por tres noches.The client stayed at the hotel for three nights.
- ¿Puede quedarse unos minutos más?Can you stay a few more minutes?
- La compañía permaneció en el mercado por más de veinte años.The company stayed in the market for over twenty years.
- Permaneceremos en el hotel hasta el sábado.We will stay at the hotel until Saturday.
- Me quedaré en casa de Juan esta noche.I'll stay at Juan's place tonight.
- Mis amigos se quedaron en mi casa después de la fiesta.My friends stayed at my house after the party.
- ¿Nos podemos quedar aquí esta noche?Can we stay here tonight?
- Voy a hospedarme en el hotel Mirador.I'm going to stay at the Mirador Hotel.
- Voy a alojarme en casa de mi hermana.I'm going to stay at my sister's place.
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quedarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
