Hoy quiero merendar con mis amigos en el parque.

Today I want to have a snack with my friends in the park.

Breakdown of Hoy quiero merendar con mis amigos en el parque.

• el amigo: the friend
• yo: I
• querer: to want
• en: in
• mi: my
• con: with
• hoy: today
• el: the
• el parque: the park
• merendar: to have a snack

Questions & Answers about Hoy quiero merendar con mis amigos en el parque.

What does merendar mean in this context?

In Spanish (particularly in Spain), merendar refers to having a light meal or snack, usually in the afternoon. It often involves something sweet or a small sandwich and is typically enjoyed between lunch (which is often eaten later in Spain) and dinner (which can be quite late as well).

Why do we use quiero instead of another verb form?

Quiero is the first-person singular form of the verb querer (meaning to want). Since the sentence starts with Hoy quiero… (Today I want…), we’re talking about I want in the present tense, so quiero is the correct choice.

Is there a reason we say en el parque instead of al parque?

Yes. En el parque means in the park or at the park, which emphasizes the location where you plan to have the snack. If you used al parque (to the park), it would emphasize going to the park or heading there, rather than being inside it. Since the sentence suggests you’re going to enjoy your snack in that place, en el parque is more suitable.

How do I know when to use mis amigos instead of mis amigas or another form?

In Spanish, if you have a mixed group of male and female friends or you don’t wish to specify gender, you generally use the masculine plural form amigos. If you are referring only to a group of female friends, then you would use amigas.

What if I wanted to use the infinitive merendar differently, like para merendar?

Using para merendar would shift the meaning to something like in order to have a snack. For instance, you could say something like: He traído bocadillos para merendar (I’ve brought sandwiches to have a snack). It’s simply another way to structure the idea of snacking, often implying purpose.