Spanish Phrase
Quiero el pollo.
Meaning
Literally ‘I want the chicken.’ In a restaurant or home setting it usually means you’d like to order or have the chicken dish. The article ‘el’ signals you’re referring to a specific portion, e.g., the chicken on the menu.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are ordering food in a restaurant, telling a host what you’d like at a family meal, or simply stating a preference for chicken over other options.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quieroelpollo
Quiero (verb querer)
‘Quiero’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘querer’ (to want). It is a regular -er verb: quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, queréis, quieren.
el (definite article)
‘el’ is the masculine singular definite article, used before a specific noun that is known to the listener.
pollo (noun)
‘pollo’ is a masculine singular noun meaning ‘chicken’ (the meat or the animal).
🗨In Conversation
Quiero el pollo, por favor.
I’d like the chicken, please.
Claro, ¿lo quiere con arroz o con ensalada?
Sure, would you like it with rice or salad?
✕Common Mistakes
Quiero un pollo.
‘Un pollo’ means ‘a chicken (whole animal)’, not a menu portion. Use ‘el pollo’ for the dish.
Quiero el pollo por favor.
The preposition ‘por’ is unnecessary here; simply say ‘por favor’ at the end.
Yo quieres el pollo.
‘Quieres’ is second‑person singular; the correct first‑person form is ‘quiero’.
↔Alternatives
Me gustaría el pollo.
I would like the chicken.
Quisiera el pollo.
I would like the chicken (more polite).
Voy a pedir el pollo.
I’m going to order the chicken.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries it’s considered polite to add ‘por favor’ when ordering. If you want to sound especially courteous, use the conditional form ‘quisiera’ or the phrase ‘me gustaría’. Also, remember that the article ‘el’ is usually kept when you refer to a specific dish on the menu, but you can drop it in casual speech (e.g., ‘Quiero pollo’).