Thread: Querer frente a Amar

Mi esposa y yo fuimos a una librería de descuento. Compramos algunos libros de español para niños. Un libro se titula "Te quiero, papá." Que, por supuesto, se traduce en "I Love You, Daddy."

I learned Querer as "to want" but obviously, it can also carry the meaning "to love." I learned Amar as "to love." When would one choose one verb over the other? Is it geographical?


Mark

At least in Mexico, amar is a stronger word than querer. You only use "amar" for sons, daughters, wife, girl/boyfriend, etc.

Watch out! As a man, never use "amar" to describe what you feel about other man; maybe "querer" but only in an indirect way. "Macho" matters

The expression " te quiero " had originaly more a sense of" I want you ,I desire you "and by extension a sense of possession .The real I love you should be " te amo ".But the fact is that the first one has become a widespread manner of speach to say I love you,and the second one might nowadays be considered exessively high-sounding .

Strangely enough , if you are not homosexual ,you should use the word “amar “when you refer to a friend of the same *** ,since the love for a friend is not tainted by desire or lust. On the contrary “querer “implies desire, a longing to possess . At the risk of sounding bombastic I shall say that friendship is the purest love of all .

I should have said gender in order to avoid the stars, shame on me.

Originally Posted by Sergi

The expression " te quiero " had originaly more a sense of" I want you ,I desire you "and by extension a sense of possession .The real I love you should be " te amo ".But the fact is that the first one has become a widespread manner of speach to say I love you,and the second one might nowadays be considered exessively high-sounding .

Sergi, where did it have that meaning? Te quiero means and has always meant in Spain : I love you.

The "real" I love you?? Strange way to post that.

Originally Posted by Sergi

Strangely enough , if you are not homosexual ,you should use the word “amar “when you refer to a friend of the same *** ,since the love for a friend is not tainted by desire or lust. On the contrary “querer “implies desire, a longing to possess . At the risk of sounding bombastic I shall say that friendship is the purest love of all .

Well, dear Marcus, I strongly advice you against this recommendation. If you said to a man in public or in private "te amo", no doubt he will think you are proposing "that".

I really have no clue what sergi is talking about.

Apparently it's a latinamerican thing, Julio.

In Argentina we also use "te amo" for sons and daughters.
However, there is a social marker - upper class people will never use "te amo" for people other than spouses / girlfriend or boyfriend, just like it happens in Spain.

They use "te quiero mucho" instead.

It's like "malla - Traje de baño" - or "rojo / colorado" (the latter being more "accepted" within upper classes).