The Portuguese verb "querer" means "to want" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "querer" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "querer" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | quero |
| tu | you (informal) | queres |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | quer |
| nós | we | queremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | quereis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | querem |
Ele quer aprender a ler.
He wants to learn to read.
How to Conjugate "querer" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | quis |
| tu | you (informal) | quiseste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | quis |
| nós | we | quisemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | quisestes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | quiseram |
Ela quis comer pizza hoje.
She wanted to eat pizza today.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | queria |
| tu | you (informal) | querias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | queria |
| nós | we | queríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | queríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | queriam |
Ele queria aprender a nadar.
He wanted to learn to swim.
How to Conjugate "querer" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | quererei |
| tu | you (informal) | quererás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | quererá |
| nós | we | quereremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | querereis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | quererão |
Ele quererá aprender mais.
He will want to learn more.
How to Conjugate "querer" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | quereria |
| tu | you (informal) | quererias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | quereria |
| nós | we | quereríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | quereríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | quereriam |
Ela quereria falar contigo.
She would want to speak with you.
Frequently Asked Questions About "querer"
Is "querer" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Querer" is an irregular Portuguese verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "querer" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "querer" means "to want" in English.
How do you conjugate "querer" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → quero, tu → queres, ele/ela/você → quer, nós → queremos, vós → quereis, eles/elas/vocês → querem.
How many tenses does "querer" have in Portuguese?
"Querer" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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