Spanish course

Lesson 11 of 238

New here? This is lesson 11 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

Start hereHow this works

I need this in Spanish

You're at the counter in Café Laurel, and this still isn't a meal. Justin just wants a glass of water.

You'll say what you want, what you don't want, and what you need. You'll also ask someone else what they want.

That comes up every time you order something small. Yako has an opinion about the water too.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you want or need, and ask someone what they want.

  • Quiero ___I want ___
  • No quiero ___I don't want ___
  • Necesito ___I need ___
  • Quisiera ___I'd like ___
  • ¿Me puedes dar ___?Can I have ___?
  • ¿Qué quieres?What do you want?

Scene — at the counter

It's the middle of the morning at the Café Laurel counter. Michael is waiting, and Justin is not looking at the food.

He wants water in a glass. Yako watches from two chairs, ready to want the same thing.

At the counter, still not a meal: Justin wants water, Yako watches from two chairs.

Learn — want and need

Six lines for wanting, needing, and asking. Take them one at a time.

Tap ▶ to hear each one, then say it out loud before you move on.

  1. Quiero ___: Justin points at a glass of water, wanting it.

    Quiero ___

    I want ___

    When to use it: Say this to name the thing you want.

    The blank is the thing, like agua.

  2. No quiero ___: Justin shakes his head at the coffee cup Michael offers.

    No quiero ___

    I don't want ___

    When to use it: Say this to turn one thing down.

    No comes first, then quiero.

  3. Necesito ___: Justin needs a glass, and Michael reaches for an empty one.

    Necesito ___

    I need ___

    When to use it: Say this when you need it, not only when you want it.

    Say it: neh-seh-SEE-toh

  4. Quisiera ___: Yako politely wants water.

    Quisiera ___

    I'd like ___

    When to use it: Say this for a softer I'd like.

    Softer than quiero. Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: kee-SYEH-rah

  5. ¿Me puedes dar ___?: Justin asks Michael to hand him the water.

    ¿Me puedes dar ___?

    Can I have ___?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want someone to hand you something.

    Me is to me, and dar is give.

    Say it: meh PWEH-dehs dar

  6. ¿Qué quieres?: Michael asks Justin what he wants, before anything is chosen.

    ¿Qué quieres?

    What do you want?

    When to use it: Ask this to find out what the other person wants.

    Say it: keh KYEH-rehs

Story — just a glass

Watch Justin turn down coffee and ask for water instead. The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

Tap Play the scene to hear it, and turn on Show English if you get stuck.

  1. Justin is at the counter. He is not ordering food.
  2. Michael¿Qué quieres?What do you want?
  3. JustinQuiero agua.I want water.
  4. Michael¿Café?Coffee?
  5. JustinNo, gracias. No quiero café.No, thanks. I don't want coffee.
  6. JustinNecesito un vaso.I need a glass.
  7. Justin¿Me puedes dar agua?Can you give me water?
  8. MichaelUn momento, por favor.Just a moment, please.
  9. MichaelAquí tienes.Here you go.
  10. Justin looks at Yako, on two chairs beside the counter.
  11. Justin¿Qué quieres?What do you want?
  12. YakoQuisiera agua.I'd like water.

Practice — ask for it

Ten short exercises. You'll listen, match, swap a word, and build a line you already know.

If you miss one, try again or skip it. The reason shows up after the right answer.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Quiero ___Drop the English here
    Necesito ___Drop the English here
    Quisiera ___Drop the English here
    ¿Qué quieres?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What does it mean?

    Necesito ___

  4. What do you say?

    Michael offers coffee. Turn the coffee down.

  5. Fill the gap

    No, thanks

    No, ____

  6. Swap the word

    Say the same want in a softer way.

    ____ ___

  7. What do you say?

    You want Michael to hand you the water.

  8. Which one doesn’t belong?

  9. What do you say?

    Michael sets the glass down in front of Justin. What does Michael say?

  10. Build the line

    Just a moment, please

    ,

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — your turn at the counter

You are Justin at the counter. Michael asks first, and you answer.

Tap the microphone when it's your turn. Tap ▶ to hear the line first. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Michael¿Qué quieres?What do you want?
  2. Justin (you)Say you want water.

    Quiero ___

    I want ___

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Quiero ___I want ___
No quiero ___I don't want ___
Necesito ___I need ___
Quisiera ___I'd like ___
¿Me puedes dar ___?Can I have ___?
¿Qué quieres?What do you want?
Next: lesson 12No more, thanks

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards and flip them anywhere.

Want, need, and a softer I'd like come up every time you ask for something small.

Open Yak Cards