Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Stay in Spanish: Quedarse
Quedarse · verb · keh-DAHR-seh
Stay in Spanish is quedarse (to remain somewhere), a reflexive verb used in daily conversation across all regions.
Quedarse is keh-DAHR-seh, three syllables with stress on DAHR.
Prefiero quedarme en casa esta noche.
I prefer to stay at home tonight.
Stay in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for stay, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| quedarse | stay | keh-DAHR-seh | Default, widely understood |
| permanecer | stay | formal, meaning to remain | |
| hospedarse | stay | staying at a hotel or lodging |
How Native Speakers Use Quedarse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Declining an invitation
No voy a la fiesta, me quedo aquí.
I'm not going to the party, I'm staying here.
Casual conversation about plans.
Hotel accommodation
Nos hospedamos en un hotel cerca de la playa.
We stayed at a hotel near the beach.
Travel accommodation.
Asking someone to remain
Quédate un rato más, todavía es temprano.
Stay a while longer, it's still early.
Requesting someone's presence.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Quedarse
Forgetting reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: Quiero quedar en casa.
Correct: Quiero quedarme en casa.
Quedarse (to stay) requires the reflexive pronoun; quedar without it means to arrange a meetup or to be left.
Confusing quedar with quedarse
Incorrect: Me quedé con ella a las ocho.
Correct: Quedé con ella a las ocho.
Quedar (without se) means to arrange to meet someone; quedarse means to stay or remain in a place.
Lock in Stay 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 Quedarse used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using quedarse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Prefiero quedarme en casa esta noche. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Stay in Spanish
- How do you say stay in Spanish?
- The standard translation is quedarse for remaining in a place, while hospedarse or alojarse specifically refers to staying at accommodations like hotels or hostels.
- What is the difference between quedarse and permanecer?
- Quedarse is the everyday conversational choice for staying somewhere, while permanecer is more formal and literary, often seen in written instructions like permanezca sentado (remain seated).
- How do you say stay safe in Spanish?
- Stay safe translates as cuídate (informal) or cuídese (formal), which literally means take care of yourself rather than using the word quedarse.