Quisiera

Quisiera is a form of the Spanish verb querer and is used to express wishes or to make polite requests. It translates commonly as “I would like” or “I would want,” and it is often preferred over the direct present tense quiero when a softer, more courteous tone is desired. The form can function in both standalone wishes and in clauses that express requests or preferences.

Formation and forms: Quisiera belongs to the imperfect subjunctive mood. It is the yo and él/ella/usted form, with the full set of imperfect subjunctive forms being yo quisiera, tú quisieras, él quisiera, nosotros quisiéramos, vosotros quisierais, ellos quisieran. In standard written and spoken Spanish, the -iera variant is the most common (quisiere/quisiera); an alternative spelling with -iese (quisiese) exists but is less frequent today. The imperfect subjunctive is typically used in contexts that require a hypothesis, desiderative mood, or polite requests.

Usage and examples: Quisiera appears in both independent and dependent clauses. Examples include: “Quisiera dos boletos, por favor,” meaning “I would like two tickets, please.” “Quisiera saber la hora de apertura” means “I would like to know the opening time.” In subordinate clauses introduced by que: “Quisiera que vinieras mañana.” The phrase often conveys a more tentative or formal tone than the present tense quiero (I want).

Notes: Quisiera is distinct from the conditional form querría, which is formed differently and serves a related but not identical function. Querer in the imperfect subjunctive includes variations like quisiera/quisiese, and its use as a polite request is widely established across Spanish-speaking regions.