From Latin *quaerere* ("to seek, to look for"), which also gave English "query" and "inquire." Over time in Vulgar Latin it shifted from "to seek" to "to want," and in Spanish it further extended to express love and affection — a semantic journey from searching outward to longing inward.

Spanish distinguishes two verbs for "to love": *querer* and *amar*. *Querer* is warmer and more everyday — you use it for both people and things you love or want ("Te quiero" to a partner or close family member), while *amar* is deeper and more solemn ("Te amo" carries greater emotional weight). Be careful: English speakers may under-use *querer* for love and over-rely on *amar*, which can sound overly intense in casual contexts.