lo que quiero
/lo ke kjeɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'what I want' is translated into Spanish as lo que quiero.
If you want to express your desires using the verb itself, quiero is the most straightforward way to say 'I want'. For more polite expressions, you can use quisiera or me gustaría (I would like). If you want a formal expression meaning 'I would like' or 'I wish', use desearía. In colloquial settings, you can use me apetece to say 'I feel like' or 'I fancy'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the neuter article lo, the relative pronoun que and the first-person singular present indicative of querer (to want), which literally means 'that which I want'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'what I wanted' in the past, you change the verb to the imperfect tense lo que quería.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo ke kjeɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use qué quiero to mean 'what I want' in a statement. However, qué is used for direct or indirect questions, whereas lo que is used for relative clauses meaning 'the thing that'.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, querer does not just mean 'to want', but also 'to love'. In Spain, saying te quiero is a common way to tell a partner or family member 'I love you'.
- While quiero is the direct way to say 'I want', using it alone in a restaurant can sound demanding. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using quisiera is a social marker of politeness to avoid appearing entitled.
- Spanish uses the 'neuter' article lo in lo que quiero because the 'thing' being wanted is undefined. Spanish lacks a neuter gender for nouns, but uses this specific article to create abstract concepts.
Examples in context
- Sé lo que quiero.I know what I want.This sentence is useful for saying 'I know what I want' using lo que quiero.Tatoeba #2205334 by Shishir, translation #1887507 by CK
- Es lo que quiero.It's what I want.This sentence is useful for saying 'It's what I want' using lo que quiero.Tatoeba #7682906 by arh, translation #3449259 by CK
- No sé lo que quiero.I don't know what I want.Tatoeba #1785019 by Shishir, translation #1785015 by Amastan
- Quisiera reservar una habitación para dos personas, por favor.I would like to book a room for two people, please.
- Quiero un helado de chocolate.I want a chocolate ice cream.
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are looking at a menu in a restaurant.
- ElenaCreo que ya sé lo que quiero.I think I already know what I want.
- Daniel¿Qué vas a pedir, Elena?What are you going to order, Elena?
- ElenaQuiero la pasta, eso es lo que quiero.I want the pasta, that is what I want.
- DanielBuena elección, yo pediré lo mismo.Good choice, I will order the same.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
