lo que quieres
/lo ke kjeɾes/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'what you want' is said as lo que quieres.
This phrase refers to the thing or things that a person desires or wishes to have. It is used as a noun clause within a larger sentence rather than as a standalone question.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, lo que quieres means 'the thing that you want'. In this construction, lo acts as a neuter article to turn the following clause into a noun phrase.
Which one should you use?
Use ¿Qué quieres? if you are asking the direct question 'What do you want?' Use lo que quieres when the phrase is part of a larger statement, such as 'I know what you want'.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo ke kjeɾes/
Did you know?
- In many Latin American countries, people might use the verb querer to mean 'to love' in a romantic sense, potentially changing the nuance of lo que quieres.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, using lo que quieres in a sarcastic tone can imply that the other person is being greedy or demanding.
- The lo in this phrase comes from the Latin word illud, which was used specifically for neuter nouns.
Examples in context
- Sé lo que quieres.I know what you want.This example shows how to state that you are aware of the subject's desire using lo que quieres.Tatoeba #1868689 by Shishir, translation #1864518 by Spamster
- Dime lo que quieres.Tell me what you want.This example demonstrates how to ask someone to state their desire using lo que quieres.Tatoeba #679791 by humbertovs, translation #25020 by CK
- No sé lo que quieres.I don't know what you want.This example shows how to express a lack of knowledge regarding the subject's desire using lo que quieres.Tatoeba #10086798 by saverius, translation #1887252 by CK
- Me gustaría reservar una habitación para dos personas.I would like to book a room for two people.
- Quisiera pedir la cuenta por favor.I would like to ask for the bill, please.
- Quiero comer una pizza esta noche.I want to eat pizza tonight.
- Se me antoja comer algo dulce.I feel like eating something sweet.
- Me gustaría un café, por favor.I would like a coffee, please.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at a cafe deciding on a dessert.
- Lucía¿Sabes lo que quieres de comer?Do you know what you want to eat?
- MateoNo estoy seguro de lo que quiero.I am not sure what I want.
- LucíaEntonces yo pediré lo que quiero.Then I will order what I want.
- MateoEstá bien, Lucía, elige tú.That's fine, Lucía, you choose.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
