English

Spanish

The easiest and most useful meaning of "quedar" is "arrange to meet" it is used when making plans to go out or meet people.

Where can we meet?

¿Dónde podemos quedar?

Q: Do you fancy going to the cinema tonight?
A: Sorry I can't, because I have already arranged to go out for dinner with some friends.

Q: ¿Te apetece ir al cine esta noche?
A: Lo siento, no puedo porque ya he quedado con unos amigos para cenar

Quedar can also mean "to come to an agreement" This is normally used when two people discuss something and then come to an agreement. Note: If you just want to ask someone "Do you agree?" you would say "¿Estás de acuerdo?"

They agreed not to tell him anything

Quedaron en no decirle nada

What did you decide on/agree to in the end?

¿Al final, en qué quedaste?

So, what's happening? Shall we see each other tomorrow or not?

¿Entonces en qué quedamos? ¿Nos vemos mañana o no?

We often use "quedar" to speak about the effects or result of something after something has happened and it is similar to "become", "to end up" or "to be left".

thousands of families were left homeless

miles de familias quedaron sin hogar

she became pregnant

se quedó embarazada

he became an orphan when he was ten

quedó huérfano a los diez años

it looks lovely after having been painted red

ha quedado precioso pintado de rojo

they were stunned after finding out about his resignation.

se quedaron atónitos al enterarse de su dimisión

he was blinded in an accident

se quedó ciego en un accidente

"Quedar" can mean "to stay" or "remain"

I'm going to stay at home tonight

voy a quedarme en casa esta noche

we stayed at the Dorchester

nos quedamos en el Dorchester

I like visiting Madrid, but I wouldn’t want to live there

Me gusta visitar Madrid, pero no me gustaría quedarme allí a vivir

"Quedar" can mean "to have left" and also "to have left over"

there is no coffee left
there are no tickets left

no queda café
no quedan entradas

I drank the milk that was left over from breakfast

bebí la leche que había quedado del desayuno

"Quedar" can mean "to keep"

Keep the change (when paying for something)

quédate con el cambio

She didn't give me my money back

se quedó con mi dinero

We haven't listed all the possible uses of "quedar" but here are a few more examples which we found by chance on web pages.

to be left stranded (or to run aground)

quedar varado

to get bogged down

quedar empantanado

I made a complete fool of myself

quedé como un verdadero idiota

sorry I’m late, I overslept

perdón por llegar tarde, me quedé dormido

if you pay for my ticket, then we will be quits.

si me pagas la entrada, quedamos en paz

my mind went blank

me quedé en blanco;

How long are going to stay you in London?

¿cuánto tiempo te vas a quedar en Londres?

our plan won’t get anywhere

nuestro plan va a quedar en nada

what I’m about to say is strictly between you and me

lo que te voy a decir debe quedar entre nosotros