What is the correct way to say 'I would like' in Spanish?

Tenerife Blade · 20th June 2006, 09:02

Can someone please clarify something for me. I'm in the process of trying to learn Spanish, but one thing that keeps cropping up is the correct way to say 'I would like'.

I have found three different ways which are all apparently correct. If anyone could tell me which is most commonly used, or which is the informal one, i'd be very grateful.

The three i have found so far are: Que Sera. Me Gustarría and Querría.

If none of these are the preferred way to say 'I would like', what is the correct way. Gracias.

tenerifehen · 20th June 2006, 09:20

i use quisiera from the verb querer 'to want'

it it the most used way that i have heard to. it basicly means i would like or querria is the same.....as far as i am told .....i have never had anyone say that i was speaking wrong..........heehee

Mike in Chayofa · 20th June 2006, 10:04

Quisiera is 'I would like' (or may I have) - as in wanting something (1st and 3rd person imperfect subjunctive).

So:

(yo) quisiera - I would like
él quisiera - he would like
ella quisiera - she would like

... but you wouldn't normally say in Spanish - 'I would like and he would like', you would usually say ' I would like ... and he wants'
ie Quisiera xxxxx y él quiere xxxxx

Me gustaria would be used only in the context of something that would please you (and I can't think of an example in this sort of context - so I guess that it wouldn't be used.)

So:

Me gusta el sol - I like the sun (literally - it pleases me the sun)

Natz · 21st June 2006, 19:39

I always say 'Quisiera' for 'I would like' when I'm ordering food or something. A Spanish friend of mine thinks it's quite a polite way to say it though and that it's not the most common practise. I think most of the Spanish just say 'Queiro' instead which is 'I want.

Tenerife Blade · 21st June 2006, 19:46

Thanks for your answers and advice. I think the concensus is 'Quisiera' is the most common, and polite way to say 'I would like'. I'll go with this. Cheers everyone.

Janni · 3rd July 2006, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenerife Blade

Can someone please clarify something for me. I'm in the process of trying to learn Spanish, but one thing that keeps cropping up is the correct way to say 'I would like'.

I have found three different ways which are all apparently correct. If anyone could tell me which is most commonly used, or which is the informal one, i'd be very grateful.

The three i have found so far are: Que Sera. Me Gustarría and Querría.

If none of these are the preferred way to say 'I would like', what is the correct way. Gracias.

Have a look on studyspanish.com, it will answer many questions!!!

Synchronicity · 30th October 2006, 11:38

Me Gustaría... is the conditional form of gustar... to like/to please: literal translation: "it would please me"
Quiero... is "I want"
Quisieria: is the conditional form of to want... the actual translation is "I would want/like".

If you want to order something, other ways to say this are:

dos cortados, por favor
me pones... una tapa.... put me a tapa. I've been listening, and that's often how they ask for something here.

enfermera · 30th October 2006, 14:03

I have a very good friend who has lived on the island for about 40 years. When she first came here, she didnt speak any spanish. her spanish husband taught her a few things and would accompany her to the market. Being the polite little scottish lady that she is, she would say 'could I have....' - puedo tener.....
After a while the stall holder turned to her and said - of course you can have, but please stop asking me if you can - just say what you want.

We english are quite formal in our requests and feel embarrassed to demand something - like give me some tapas - poneme una cerveza. You would get it thrown at you if you asked for it that way in the uk. But it is the way here.
If you said - speak to me - digame- when you answered the phone in the UK, the person on the other end would be insulted.
Also the spanish tease us about saying please and thank you all the time.

I use quisiera if I ring somewhere and would like to speak to a certain person - quisiera hablar con.....

Mike in Chayofa · 30th October 2006, 14:20

Quote:

Also the spanish tease us about saying please and thank you all the time.

It isn't all that long ago, when quite a few of them actually got quite stroppy about it

I remember going to eat a few years ago and the waiter asked me to ask some friends to stop saying 'thank you' every time he brought something to the table. As he explained, it was his job and he was pleased and proud to do it.