querer
/keˈɾeɾ/
In Spanish, 'wanna' is expressed by the verb querer.
The phrase is used to express a desire to perform an action. To express the specific idea of 'wanting to [do something]', you follow a conjugated form of querer directly with an infinitive verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'I wanna' in Spanish, you must conjugate querer to the first person singular form quiero. If you are asking 'do you wanna' in an informal context, use the second person singular form quieres.
How do you pronounce it?
/keˈɾeɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, querer is used to say 'I love you' to friends and family, whereas amar is reserved for intense romantic passion.
- The verb querer shares a common ancestor with the English word 'query'. While 'wanna' expresses desire, its root describes the act of seeking or asking for something.
- In certain dialects, the word querer can be used in a sarcastic way to imply that someone is being too demanding or 'greedy' for something.
Examples in context
- ¿Quieres ir al cine?Do you want to go to the movies?
- Tengo ganas de comer pizza.I feel like eating pizza.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry querer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries querer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
