querer salir
/keɾeɾ saliɾ/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "want to date" is querer salir.
querer salir is used to express having a romantic interest in someone and wishing to go on a date with them. When you want to specify the person you wish to date, you typically use the construction querer salir con alguien, adding the preposition con (with) and the person's name or pronoun. While salir literally means "to go out" or "to leave," in a romantic context, it implies dating or being in a relationship.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb querer (to want) and salir (to go out/to leave).
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions have specific ways to ask someone to be in a relationship: in Mexico, you can use ¿Te gustaría ser mi novio/novia? (Would you like to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?). In Argentina, ¿Querés ser mi novio/novia? (Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?). And in Spain, ¿Quieres ser mi novio/novia? (Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb querer must be conjugated to match the subject of your sentence. For example, use quiero to say "I want" in the phrase quiero salir (I want to date).
How do you pronounce it?
/keɾeɾ saliɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb salir is a cognate of the English word 'sally'. While 'sally' now usually refers to a sudden charge, they both originate from a Latin word for leaping or jumping.
- The verb querer is used both for 'to want' and 'to love'. Depending on the country and context, saying te quiero can be a casual expression of affection or a deep romantic confession.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, salir con alguien can imply a committed relationship, whereas in English 'dating' often refers to the casual stage before exclusivity.
Examples in context
- Ella quiere salir conmigo.She wants to date me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries querer, salir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
