quedar
to remain / to be left
A versatile verb built around the core idea of "coming to rest" in a state, place, or arrangement
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
repetition
quiet
still and calm
(no noise)
+
-ar
verb suffix
Quedar means to remain or to be left and is related to the English word quiet0, as something that remains or is left over has gone quiet and settled into place.
quedar
to remain, to be left, to have left (what is left over)
Something settles into existence — it's still there, it hasn't been used up or removed. English says "there's milk left" or "I have no time left"; Spanish says the milk or time "remains" (queda).
- No queda leche = There's no milk left
- Me quedan tres euros = I have three euros left
- Solo quedan las ruinas = Only the ruins remain
to be, to be located (location)
A place has come to rest at a certain spot on the map. Used when giving directions or describing where something is.
- El restaurante queda a dos calles de aquí = The restaurant is two streets from here
- Ese pueblo queda lejos = That town is far away
to end up, to turn out, to look (resulting state)
Something settles into a new state or impression — how things turn out after an event, or how someone comes across to others.
- La carta quedó sin contestar = The letter ended up unanswered
- Quedó herido = He ended up wounded
- No quiero quedar como un idiota = I don't want to come across as an idiot
- Quedamos terceros = We finished third
to fit, to suit, to look good on (clothing / appearance)
How clothing or a style settles on a person — whether it fits or suits them.
- La talla M aún me queda = A medium still fits me
- ¿Cómo le queda el nuevo corte de pelo? = Does her new hairstyle suit her?
to agree, to arrange to meet, to plan to meet (making plans)
Two people settle on an arrangement — they agree on a time and place to meet. Very common in everyday Spanish.
- ¿Dónde quedamos? = Where shall we meet?
- Quedamos a las diez = We arranged to meet at ten
- Quedamos en comprar la finca = We agreed to buy the property
quedarse
to stay, to remain (in a place)
To settle and stay in a place, rather than leave.
- Se quedaron con nosotros durante la Navidad = They stayed with us over Christmas
- No me pidas que me quede si no vas a volver = Don't ask me to stay if you're not coming back
to keep, to hold on to (to retain something)
To settle into ownership or possession of something.
- Yo me quedaré con los libros = I'll keep the books
- No te puedes quedar con lo que no es tuyo = You can't keep what isn't yours
to go, to become, to end up (change of state (with adjective))
Used with an adjective to describe settling into a new condition — especially an irreversible or lasting one.
- Se quedó ciego = He went blind
- Me quedé dormido = I fell asleep
- Se quedó sin palabras = She was left speechless
to pull someone's leg, to kid (colloquial (Spain))
To trick or tease someone — to leave them holding a false belief. Common in Spain.
- ¿Te estás quedando conmigo? = Are you pulling my leg?
- Se quedó con Arturo = He was pulling Arturo's leg