Spanish word of the day

Let's make QUERER the word of the day for May 9, since we're still discussing it.

First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

Third, that Olivia songs reminds me of my favorite Abba song, although it is hard to pick just one, because they had so many huge hits.

"If you change your mind,
I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me"

Fourth, I just stumbled upon the fact that Gidget, the Taco Bell chihuahua, died in 2009. She was also the dog in Legally Blonde 2. This shows you the kind of thing I manage to waste my time researching. “Yo quiero Taco Bell” Chihuahua Has Gone to Rainbow Bridge.

Fifth, I just wrote to Taco Bell, via their web site, the following question.

Quote: Taco Bell inquiry

Hello. I'm trying to learn Spanish, and understand that QUIERO can mean I want or I love. I'm sure you're aware of the Taco Bell chihuahua, who said "Yo quiero Taco Bell."

My question, is was he/she saying I want, or love, Taco Bell? Thank you for helping me with my Spanish. I have been enjoying eating at your restaurants for many years.

Quote: Wizard

\First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.
Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

Wikipedia translates it both ways, ¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" ("I want Taco Bell!" or "I love Taco Bell!"), but usually on the commercial it is "I want my Taco Bell".

While philos is brotherly love, and agape is romantic love, I think querer is more like the similar word in English, I require something. Which can have a range of levels from simple want to a passionate need.

There is the verb 'amar' in Spanish if you want to be more precise.

Quote: Wizard

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

So, you eat at Taco Bell? I was craving tacos yesterday but ended up with Indian food since the idea of Taco Bell skeeves me out. But it's okay?

They may have picked the word for the very reason it means both things!

Quote: pacomartin

I think querer is more like the similar word in English, I require something. Which can have a range of levels from simple want to a passionate need.

Maybe you're right in your theory that it comes from the Latin quaerō, in which case it should always lean towards wanting something, which was how I originally used querer before I got confused with adding love to it.

I have a Spanish lesson today, and will bring out a printout of the Limon y Sal lyrics. However, I'll bet that she will go with translating the usage there as love. She seems to like to express things in an affectionate way.

Paco, we have our lessons in a coffee shop. If you ever want to drop by to say hello, drop me a PM.

Nareed, I'll look into your word from the last page next. Maybe the word of the day for tomorrow.

Quote: FarFromVegas

So, you eat at Taco Bell? I was craving tacos yesterday but ended up with Indian food since the idea of Taco Bell skeeves me out. But it's okay?

Not very much, once every one or two months. Usually on Sundays I ride bikes with my son, and sometimes my daughter, to a local restaurant. My son likes to pick Taco Bell, which is fine with me too.

Quote: Wizard

First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.

You could look at it that way. Someone saying they love their friends would say "quiero mucho a mis amigos," but he woulnd't say "amo a mis amigos." But there are no hard and fast rules about it.

Overall "querer" is used more as "to want" than "to love."

Quote:

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell?

He wants Taco Bell.

At some point make a list of Latin verbs, then the English words derived from those Latin verbs, then the Spanish verbs derived from the Latin, then the Anglo-Saxon/ Germanic or Old Norse based English verbs that have a similar meaning. Often the Online etymology dictionary is helpful. If a word comes from Old French that means it once had Latin base (England was conquered by Normans in 1066, not by Spaniards.

Example:
Latin verb: cognoscō: cognoscere:
Spanish verb: conozco: conocer:
Spanish related words/phrases: un conocido(an acquiantance), poner en conocimiento de (to inform about), reconocer(recognize or admit), desconocer(to be ignorant of)
English "Old English" word: I know; to know
English "Latin" words: acquaint, cognition, cognizance, connoisseur, incognito, notice, notify, notion, notorious, quaint, recognize, reconnaissance, reconnoiter

The Anglo-Saxons used two distinct words for this, witan (see wit) and cnawan.

Logically if "know" is a word, then "reknow" should also be a word, but English switches to the Latin base and says "recognize".

Latin verbs (A to K)
Latin verbs (L to Z)

Quote: Te Conozco Bien

Marc Anthony who was born in New York City.
Siento pena,
pena porque te quise de veras
rabia porque te di
lo que nunca
imaginaste un dia tener
todo el mundo a tus pies

Siento lastima
porque yo se que aun
tu me extranas
lo noto en tu voz
las veces que llamas
porque yo se que sufres con el
aunque fingas ser fiel

Mira si yo te conozco bien
que me atreveria jurar
que no duras junto a el
un fin de semana mas
sin que extranes en tu piel
todas mis caricias

[Coro:]
Yo que te conozco bien
me atreveria a jurar
que vas a regresar
que tocaras mi puerta
yo que te conozco a ti
me atreveria decir
que estas arrepentida

[Repite Coro]

Mira si yo se tanto de ti
que me atreveria decir
que en las noches al dormir
me imaginas junto a ti
devorando como el mar
toda tu malicia

[Repite Coro 2X]

Hey!

Te conozco bien...
estas arrepentida
Yo que conozco tu cuerpo y tu piel
me atreveria a jurar
que me extranas, mujer
(te conozco bien)
te conozco bien
(estas arrepentida)
que tu volveras
que tu volveras
que tu volveras a mi puerta
y para ese momento
siempre estara abierta

(te conozco bien)
te conozco bien
(estas arrepentida)
tu regresaras
y aqui te espero, negrita

pa pa ra ri ra ra [8X]

pa pa ra ri ra ra [4X]
volveras
pa pa ra ri ra ra
otra vez
pa pa ra ri ra ra
yo lo se
pa pa ra ri ra ra
dime que
pa pa ra ri ra ra
volveras
pa pa ra ri ra ra
otra vez
pa pa ra ri ra ra
yo lo se
pa pa ra ri ra ra
dime que
pa pa ra ri ra ra
volveras

Quote: Wizard

Thank you for the translation. As I wrote before, I'm not just humoring you with this stuff, but am really trying to get better. I definitely owe you a favor for your help.

Careful what you say. I was going to send you a bill for services rendered, but now it's really open-ended :P

Who knows, I might ask for my soul back :D

Could the word also be translated as "desire"? I still think the ambiguity was intentional.

If we're going to be posting songs, let's post something of better lyrical quality:

Todo pasa y todo queda
Pero lo nuestro es pasar
Pasar haciendo caminos
Caminos sobre la mar

Nunca perseguí la gloria
Ni dejar en la memoria
de los hombres mi canción

Yo amo los mundos sutiles
ingrávidos y gentiles
como pompas de jabón

Me gusta verlos pintarse
de sol y grana, volar
bajo el cielo azul temblar
subitamente y quebrarse

Caminante son tus huellas el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace camino Y al volver la vista atrás
Se ve la senda que nunca Se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino sino estelas en la mar...

Let's see how long it takes Paco to identify this one...

Edited to add the rest:

Hace algún tiempo en ese lugar
Donde hoy los bosques se visten de espinos
Se oyó la voz de un poeta gritar
"Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar"

Murió el poeta lejos del hogar
Lo cubre el polvo de un país vecino
Al alejarse le vieron llorar:
"Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar."

Golpe a golpe
verso a verso

Cuando el jilguero no puede cantar
Cuando el poeta es un peregrino
Cuando de nada nos sirve rezar
Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar

Golpe a golpe
Verso a verso.

I wouldn't attempt a translation of this piece.