Eu quero saber a resposta.

I want to know the answer.

Breakdown of Eu quero saber a resposta.

• eu: I
• querer: to want
• a resposta: the answer
• saber: to know how to

Questions & Answers about Eu quero saber a resposta.

Do I really need to say “Eu”, or can I just say “Quero saber a resposta”?

You can absolutely drop “Eu” and say “Quero saber a resposta.”

• Portuguese is a pro‑drop language, so the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending (-o in quero) already shows it’s “I”.
• With “Eu” – a bit more emphasis on I: “I want to know the answer.”
• Without “Eu” – more neutral, very common in everyday speech: “(I) want to know the answer.”

What tense and person is “quero”, and what is the infinitive?

• “quero” is 1st person singular, present tense, indicative of the verb “querer” (to want).
  
  • eu quero – I want
  • tu queres – you (singular, informal) want
  • ele/ela quer – he/she wants
• The infinitive is “querer”.

So the literal structure is:
Eu (I) + quero (want) + saber (to know) + a resposta (the answer).

Why is “saber” in the infinitive here? Why not “sei a resposta”?

• “saber” here is an infinitive meaning “to know”, used after another conjugated verb (“quero”).
  
  • Pattern: [conjugated verb] + [infinitive] → quero saber (I want to know).
• “sei a resposta” means “I know the answer.”
• “quero saber a resposta” means “I want to know the answer.” (I don’t know it yet, but I want to.)

So you use the infinitive saber because it’s the thing you want to do (to know).

What’s the difference between “saber” and “conhecer” in Portuguese?

Both can translate as “to know,” but they’re used differently:

• saber

  • facts, information, answers, abilities
  • Ex.: Eu sei a resposta. – I know the answer.
  • Ela sabe falar português. – She knows how to speak Portuguese.

• conhecer

  • being familiar with people, places, things
  • Ex.: Conheço a Maria. – I know Maria.
  • Conhecemos Lisboa. – We know / are familiar with Lisbon.

In “Eu quero saber a resposta”, it must be saber, because you’re talking about knowing a fact/answer.

Why is it “a resposta” and not just “resposta” without the article?

In Portuguese, you usually need an article where English can omit it:

• “a resposta” = “the answer” (specific answer, known from context).
• If you say just “resposta” with no article, it sounds incomplete or very marked/poetic in this sentence.

So “Eu quero saber a resposta” is the normal, natural way to say “I want to know the answer.”

Why is the article “a” and not “o”? Is “resposta” feminine?

Yes, “resposta” is a feminine noun in Portuguese.

• Feminine singular article: a → a resposta
• Masculine singular article: o → e.g. o problema (the problem)

Plural forms:

• as respostas – the answers
• os problemas – the problems

So “a resposta” is correct because resposta is feminine.

Could I say “Eu quero a resposta” instead? Does it mean the same thing?

You can say “Eu quero a resposta”, but the meaning is slightly different:

• Eu quero saber a resposta. – I want to know the answer.
• Eu quero a resposta. – I want the answer itself (e.g. “Give me the answer”).

In many situations they overlap, but:

• “quero saber a resposta” focuses on knowing.
• “quero a resposta” can sound more like a demand for the answer as an object (e.g. in an argument or negotiation).

Is the word order fixed? Could I say “Eu quero a resposta saber”?

No, “Eu quero a resposta saber” is wrong in standard Portuguese.

The natural order is:

1. Subject: Eu
2. Conjugated verb: quero
3. Infinitive: saber
4. Object: a resposta

→ Eu quero saber a resposta.

Portuguese doesn’t put the infinitive after the object in this kind of structure. The pattern “quero saber [object]” is what you should use.

Does “Eu quero saber a resposta” sound too direct or rude? How would I make it more polite in Portugal?

On its own, “Eu quero saber a resposta” can sound quite direct, especially in European Portuguese. It’s not automatically rude, but in some contexts it may feel a bit blunt.

More polite/softer options in Portugal:

• Gostava de saber a resposta. – I’d like to know the answer.
• Queria saber a resposta. – I wanted / would like to know the answer.
• Add “por favor”: Gostava de saber a resposta, por favor.

These are very common, more courteous ways to ask.

Is there a difference between “saber a resposta” and “saber da resposta”?

Yes, the little word “de” changes the meaning:

• saber a resposta – to know the answer itself.
  
  • Quero saber a resposta. – I want to know the answer.
• saber da resposta – to hear about / be informed about the answer, more like “know about the answer (that exists, what it was, that it arrived, etc.)”.
  
  • Quero saber da resposta ao meu pedido. – I want to hear about the answer to my request / I want to know what the answer was.

In your sentence, “a resposta” (without de) is the standard, direct way to say you want to know the actual answer.

How do I pronounce “Eu quero saber a resposta” in European Portuguese?

Approximate guide for European Portuguese:

• Eu – like English “eh-oo” as a glide, often very short.
• quero – [ˈkɛɾu]; “KE-ru” with an open ɛ (like “e” in “bed”), and a tapped r (quick r like in Spanish).
• saber – [sɐˈbɛɾ]; “sɐ-BEHR”:
  
  • sɐ – like a very reduced “suh”
  • final r is a soft tap in much of Portugal (not strongly pronounced).
• a – very short, almost like a schwa: “uh”.
• resposta – roughly [ʁɨʃˈpɔʃtɐ]:
  
  • r – guttural, like French r in many regions (ʁ)
  • e – reduced, like “uh” (ɨ)
  • spó – stressed syllable; “spo” with open ó
  • sta – final a also reduced, like “stuh”

Spoken naturally, the sentence flows together something like:
“E(u) KÉ-ru sɐ-BÉR ɐ ʁɨʃ-PÓʃ-tɐ.”