Spanish phrase of the week

Quería pedir cita

I'd like to make an appointment

A2, elementaryYou can manage short, routine exchanges: shopping, directions, your family and your job, and simple messages.

How to use it

Quería comes from querer, so it literally means “I wanted”. But Spanish speakers use it to make a request sound softer, a bit like saying “I was wondering if…” in English.

Quiero (“I want”) isn’t rude, but quería sounds gentler, and it’s ideal on the phone or at a counter. You’ll also hear quería saber… (“I’d like to know…”) and quería preguntar… (“I wanted to ask…”).

Pedir cita means to ask for or book an appointment. Tener cita means to have one: tengo cita a las diez.

Examples

  • Quería pedir cita con el médico de cabecera.

    I'd like to make an appointment with the GP.

  • Hola, quería un kilo de tomates.

    Hello, I'd like a kilo of tomatoes.

  • Quería preguntar por el empadronamiento.

    I wanted to ask about registering on the padrón.

Good to know

Many offices in Spain only see you with cita previa, an appointment booked in advance, often online or by phone. If you turn up without one, quería pedir cita is the phrase to start with.

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