cuando yo quiera
/kwando ʝo kjeɾa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase "when I want to" is expressed as cuando yo quiera.
This phrase is used to describe doing something at a time of your own choosing in the future.
Which one should you use?
Use cuando yo quiera to refer to a single, unspecified time in the future. If you are describing a habitual action that happens every time you want it to, use the indicative form cuando yo quiero.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the present subjunctive quiera instead of the indicative quiero because it refers to an indefinite or non-specific future event.
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects, people might substitute cuando yo quiera with phrases like cuando me dé la gana, which literally means 'when the desire gives itself to me'.
- The pronoun yo is a direct descendant of the Classical Latin word egō̆, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'ego'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using yo in cuando yo quiera is often unnecessary for grammar but is added specifically to emphasize the speaker's will or defiance.
Examples in context
- Cuando quiero, voy al gimnasio.When I want to, I go to the gym.
- Cuando me da la gana, salgo con mis amigos.When I want to, I hang out with my friends.
- Cuando me apetece comer algo dulce, me como un helado.When I feel like eating something sweet, I have an ice cream.
- Cuando quiero, estudio español.When I want to, I study Spanish.
- Cuando deseo relajarme, escucho música tranquila.When I want to relax, I listen to calm music.
- Cuando me da la gana, veo películas hasta tarde.When I want to, I watch movies late into the night.
- Cuando me apetece pasear, voy al parque.When I feel like taking a walk, I go to the park.
- I will go to the beach cuando yo quiera.I will go to the beach when I want to.
- Comeré pizza cuando yo quiera.I will eat pizza when I want to.
- Te llamaré cuando yo quiera.I will call you when I want to.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about visiting a museum.
- LucíaIremos al museo cuando yo quiera.We will go to the museum when I want to.
- MateoPero el museo cierra pronto, Lucía.But the museum closes soon, Lucía.
- LucíaNo importa, iré cuando yo quiera.It doesn't matter, I'll go when I want to.
- MateoEstá bien, Mateo lo entiende.That's fine, Mateo understands.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuando, yo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
