quieres ser mi amigo
/kjeɾes seɾ mi amiɡo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you want to be friends" translates to Spanish as quieres ser mi amigo.
This phrase is used as a question to ask someone if they would like to start a friendship with you.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the word order for quieres ser mi amigo is the same for both the statement "you want to be my friend" and the question "do you want to be my friend". The two are distinguished only by punctuation or intonation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When writing this as a question in Spanish, you must include an opening inverted question mark at the beginning of the sentence: ¿Quieres ser mi amigo?
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾes seɾ mi amiɡo/
Did you know?
- The verb ser absorbed the Old Spanish word seer, which came from the Latin sedēre meaning 'to sit'. This influence is still visible in some of the verb's modern forms.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a friendship is often solidified not by a verbal agreement like quieres ser mi amigo, but by a shared meal or a social invitation.
- The Spanish language distinguishes between different levels of friendship, using conocido for someone you know but are not yet 'friends' with in a personal sense.
Examples in context
- Me gusta tu personalidad, ¿quieres ser mi amigo?I like your personality, do you want to be my friend?
- Pareces una buena persona, ¿quieres ser mi amigo?You seem like a good person, do you want to be my friend?
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking at a local park.
- MaríaHola, me llamo María.Hello, my name is María.
- DanielHola María, yo soy Daniel.Hello María, I am Daniel.
- MaríaEres muy amable, ¿quieres ser mi amigo?You are very kind, do you want to be my friend?
- Daniel¡Claro que sí!Of course!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amigo, mi, ser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
