quieres
/kjeɾes/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you want some" is translated into Spanish as quieres.
This phrase is used as a question to ask if someone would like a portion of something. You can use ¿Quieres? on its own to offer something without naming the specific object, much like saying "Want some?" in English.
Which one should you use?
you can also use ¿Quieres algo? to ask "Do you want something?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you may use ¿Querés un poco? to say "Do you want some?" or ¿Querés probar algo? to express a similar offer.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone formally, use the form quiere instead of quieres. In Spain, the plural informal form queréis is used when asking "do you all want some?"
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾes/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When translating "some", English speakers often forget that Spanish frequently expresses this by adding un poco de (a little bit of) or algo de (some) before the noun.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the phrase ¿quieres? is used rhetorically to challenge someone, effectively meaning 'Do you really want to mess with me?'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered polite to refuse an offer like ¿quieres? once or twice before finally accepting, even if you actually want the item.
- In some Caribbean dialects, the final 's' in quieres is often dropped in speech, making it sound identical to the formal quiere.
Examples in context
- ¿Quieres café o algo?Do you want some coffee or something?This is useful for offering coffee or other items.Tatoeba #3390099 by marcelostockle, translation #2019107 by CK
- ¿Quieres algo de leche?Do you want some milk?This is useful for offering a portion of milk.Tatoeba #4388630 by saverius, translation #4014422 by CK
- ¿Quieres un poco de cerveza?Do you want some beer?This is useful for offering a portion of beer.Tatoeba #1499816 by marcelostockle, translation #1499818 by CK
- ¿Desea usted un poco de vino?Do you want some wine?
- ¿Quieres probar un poco de mi postre?Do you want to try some of my dessert?
- ¿Te gustaría un poco de mi famoso guacamole?Would you like some of my famous guacamole?
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are sharing a snack at home.
- Daniel¿Quieres un poco de chocolate, Lucía?Do you want some chocolate, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, por favor, muchas gracias.Yes, please, thank you very much.
- DanielAquí tienes un trozo.Here is a piece for you.
- LucíaEstá muy rico, Daniel.It is very tasty, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
