¿qué quieres ser cuando seas grande?
The English phrase "what do you want to be when you grow up?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué quieres ser cuando seas grande?
This question is used to ask a child about their future career aspirations or life goals.
Which one should you use?
you may also hear ¿Qué quieres ser de mayor? in familiar settings. Additionally, ¿Qué te gustaría hacer cuando seas grande? is a variation that uses the verb hacer (to do) instead of ser (to be).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the informal tú form of the verb querer (quieres). In the second part of the phrase, the verb ser is used in the subjunctive mood (seas) because it refers to a hypothetical future state.
Did you know?
- The verb ser may have historically absorbed roots from the Latin verb for 'to sit', sedēre.
- The phrasing ser de mayor is particularly common in Spain, whereas ser grande is more frequent in Latin American countries.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking a child ¿Qué quieres ser? can be more about their identity than just a job.
Examples in context
- Person A: ¿Qué quieres ser cuando seas grande? Person B: Me gustaría ser escritor.Person A: What do you want to be when you grow up? Person B: I would like to be a writer.
- Dime, ¿qué quieres ser cuando seas grande?Tell me, what do you want to be when you grow up?
- Pequeño, ¿qué quieres ser cuando seas grande?Little one, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Example conversation
Elena is talking to her nephew Javier in a park.
- ElenaJavier, ¿qué quieres ser cuando seas grande?Javier, what do you want to be when you grow up?
- JavierQuiero ser un astronauta.I want to be an astronaut.
- Elena¡Eso suena muy emocionante!That sounds very exciting!
- JavierSí, viajaré al espacio.Yes, I will travel to space.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuando, grande, qué, ser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
