DON’T Say YO QUIERO, say THESE 5 Alternatives Instead!
If you want to sound like a native Spanish speaker, please don’t just say “¡yo quiero!” (I want!) Yeah, it does the job, but if you really want to blend in and speak Spanish at a high level, better use the following 5 alternatives instead!
I’m Spring Spanish teacher Paulisima, and THIS is your first alternative:
A) Ordenar comida (Order food)
1. Para mí
Señorita, ¿ya está lista para ordenar?
(Miss, are you ready to order?)
Sí, para mí, macarrones con queso y una hamburguesa doble con queso y tocino.
(Yes, for me, mac and cheese, and a double bacon cheeseburger.)
Para mí (For me).
Esta alternativa, y la que sigue, son apropiadas para ordenar en un restaurante. (This alternative, and the next one, are appropriate to order in a restaurant.)
2. Yo voy a querer
Señorita, ¿ya está lista para ordenar?
(Miss, are you ready to order?)
Sí, voy a querer una hamburguesa doble con queso y tocino, y una coca light.
(Yes, I'm going to want a double bacon cheeseburger and a diet coke.)
If you are with more people at a restaurant, to sound more natural, you can add “yo” before “voy a querer” (I would like).
¿Ya están listos para ordenar?
(Are you ready to order?)
Sí, yo voy a querer las enchiladas suizas con extra queso. Y una coca light.
(Yes, I'm going to want the Swiss enchiladas with extra cheese. And a diet coke.)
Yo voy a querer. Yo voy a querer es un chunk de español. (I am going to want. I'm going to want, is a chunk of Spanish.) Word combinations or phrases that don’t change and that are commonly used by native speakers.
To learn more about why to use them, and how to use them, check out the free Spanish chunking training that the linguists at Spring Spanish have put together to help you understand it all. Link is right there in the description.
B) Expresar un deseo (Express a wish)
Now, let’s say you’re just talking about something you’d like to have or an aspiration you have.
3. A mi me gustaría
I would like… or I would like it if…
¿Paulísima, algún plan para diciembre?
(Paulísima, any plans for December?)
A mí me gustaría ir a Cancún a ver a mi familia.
(I would like to go to Cancun to see my family.)
I would like.
A mi me gustaría. (I would like to.)
Paulísima, ¿qué quieres hacer este fin de semana?
(Paulísima, what do you want to do this weekend?)
La verdad, ¡a mi me gustaría quedarme en mi casa a dormir!
(The truth is, I would like to stay home to sleep!)
Guys, this is a great time for you all to click on the subscribe button and share this video with that friend who always says “yo quiero” you know… para que le agregue variedad a su español (to add variety to their Spanish).
4. Yo quisiera
I would want, yeah, something like that. “Yo quisiera”.
Ok so, esta frase también viene del verbo querer como en “yo quiero” (this phrase also comes from the verb to want, like in “yo quiero”), but the verb is conjugated in a different tense.
“Yo quiero” está en presente y “yo quisiera” está en pretérito imperfecto. (“Yo quiero” is present tense, and “yo quisiera” is past imperfect.)
But fear not, you don’t have to learn that! I’ll tell you why in a second.
Yo quisiera que todas las personas del mundo tuvieran acceso a una buena educación.
(I would like all people in the world to have access to a good education.)
Otro ejemplo. En este, el “quisiera” suena mucho más cortés que decir “quiero”. (Another example. In this one, “I would like” sounds much more polite than saying “I want”.)
Buenos días. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?
(Good morning. How can I help you?)
Quisiera hacer una reservación para dos personas, mañana a las tres de la tarde.
(I would like to make a reservation for 2 people, tomorrow at 3 in the afternoon.)
Buenos días. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?
(Good morning. How can I help you?)
Quisiera hablar con el señor Gonzalez, por favor.
(I would like to speak with Mr. Gonzalez, please.)
5. Me encantaría
I would love to or I would love it if.
Paulísima, ¿qué se te antoja comer hoy?
(Paulísima, what do you crave to eat today?)
Paulísima, ¿qué te gustaría hacer para tu cumpleaños?
(Paulísima, what would you like to do for your birthday?)
Me encantaría ir a Chihuahua.
(I would love to go to Chihuahua.)
Test time
Vamos a hacer un ejercicio super rapidito. (We’re going to do an exercise really quickly.) I’m going to queue you on what to answer, ok? I’m going to make this gesture, you’ll pause the video, and answer.
We’re in a restaurant.
Buenos días. ¿Ya están listos para ordenar?
(Good morning. Are you ready to order?)
If you said something like: “Para mí, una hamburguesa”. O “Yo voy a querer una hamburguesa”. (“For me, a burger.” Or “I’m going to want a burger.”)
¿Qué les gustaría hacer este fin de semana?
(What would you like to do this weekend?)
Si dijiste: “Quisiera ir a París”. O “A mí me gustaría ir a París”. (If you said: “I’d like to go to Paris.”) You’re right!
