Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say I Would Like in Spanish: Me Gustaría & Quisiera
Me gustaría · verb phrase · meh goos-tah-REE-ah
I would like has two standard Spanish translations: me gustaría (the conditional of gustar, literally it would please me) and quisiera (the imperfect subjunctive of querer, meaning I would want). Both are polite and interchangeable in restaurants, shops, and formal requests.
meh goos-tah-REE-ah — stress on the RI syllable. Quisiera: kee-see-EH-rah — stress on the third syllable.
Me gustaría un café con leche, por favor.
I would like a coffee with milk, please.
I Would Like in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for i would like, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| me gustaría | i would like | meh goos-tah-REE-ah | Default, widely understood |
| quisiera | i would like | polite, slightly more formal | |
| desearía | i would like | very formal, literary |
How Native Speakers Use Me gustaría
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Ordering food
Quisiera la sopa del día, por favor.
I would like the soup of the day, please.
Quisiera is very common when ordering in restaurants across all Spanish-speaking countries.
Making a wish
Me gustaría viajar a Japón algún día.
I would like to travel to Japan someday.
Me gustaría + infinitive expresses desires and wishes about the future.
Formal request
Desearía hablar con el gerente, si es posible.
I would like to speak with the manager, if possible.
Desearía is more formal and reserved for official or written requests.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Me gustaría
Using me gusta instead of me gustaría for requests
Incorrect: Me gusta un vaso de agua. (as a request)
Correct: Me gustaría un vaso de agua.
Me gusta means I like (a statement of preference). Me gustaría is the conditional I would like (a polite request). Confusing them changes a request into a statement.
Saying yo gustaría
Incorrect: Yo gustaría comer pizza.
Correct: Me gustaría comer pizza.
Gustar works backwards from English: the thing liked is the subject. The person is the indirect object (me). You cannot say yo gustaría — the correct structure is me gustaría + infinitive.
Lock in I Would Like Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Me gustaría used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using me gustaría in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Me gustaría un café con leche, por favor. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About I Would Like in Spanish
- How do you say I would like in Spanish?
- The two most common translations are me gustaría (it would please me) and quisiera (I would want). Both are polite and appropriate for ordering, requesting, or expressing wishes.
- Is quisiera or me gustaría more polite?
- Both are equally polite. Quisiera may sound slightly more deferential in very formal contexts, but in everyday situations they are interchangeable.
- Can I use quiero instead of quisiera?
- Quiero (I want) is direct and casual. It works among friends but can sound blunt with strangers. Quisiera or me gustaría adds the same politeness as would like vs. want in English.