Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Quiero secar la ropa al sol.

Al is the mandatory contraction of a + el. So al sol literally means “to the sun,” but in this set expression it means “in the sun/under the sun.” Spanish always contracts a + el → al and de + el → del.

Why is it al sol and not en el sol?

For exposure to sunlight, Spanish idiomatically uses al sol. En el sol sounds odd in this context. You might also hear bajo el sol (“under the sun”) when emphasizing the heat, but for drying clothes, al sol is the natural choice.

Why use secar and not secarse?

Secar is transitive: you dry something. Example: Quiero secar la ropa al sol.
Secarse is intransitive/reflexive: something gets dry by itself or you dry yourself. Example: La ropa se seca al sol (“The clothes dry in the sun”), Me seco (“I dry myself”). Both are correct depending on whether you focus on the action you perform (secar) or the result/state (secarse).

Could I say Quiero que la ropa se seque al sol? What’s the difference?

Yes. Quiero secar la ropa al sol focuses on you doing the drying. Quiero que la ropa se seque al sol expresses a desire for the clothes to end up dry in the sun (whether or not you’re the one doing anything). Note the double se in se seque is correct: the first se is reflexive; seque is the subjunctive of secar.

What’s the difference between secar, tender, and colgar for laundry?

Secar la ropa: to dry the clothes (general result; also used with a dryer: secadora).
Tender la ropa: to hang the clothes out to dry (very common in Spain).
Colgar la ropa: to hang clothes (on a hanger or line); in Spain people often prefer tender for laundry on a line. A very natural everyday phrasing in Spain is Voy a tender la ropa (al sol).

Why la ropa and not las ropas?

Ropa is a collective, uncountable noun in modern usage, so it takes singular: la ropa (“clothes”). Las ropas is rare/old-fashioned or used in special contexts (e.g., different sets of garments), not in everyday speech.

If I replace la ropa with a pronoun, which one is it and where does it go?

Use the direct object pronoun la (feminine singular). Placement:

Before the conjugated verb: La quiero secar al sol.
Attached to the infinitive: Quiero secarla al sol. Both are equally correct.

Is secar a regular verb? Any spelling changes?

It’s regular, but with the expected spelling change for verbs ending in -car before e:

Preterite yo: sequé (not “secé”).
Present subjunctive: seque, seques, seque, sequemos, sequéis, sequen. Participles: secando (gerund), secado (past participle). Note: seco/seca is an adjective (“dry”), not the participle used with haber.

How is quiero formed, and what are key forms of querer?

Quiero is the 1st person singular present of querer, which is irregular (e→ie):

Present: quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, queréis, quieren. It means “I want.”

Is quiero too direct? Softer alternatives?

Quiero is fine in neutral contexts. Softer/polite options:

Me gustaría secar la ropa al sol.
Querría/Quisiera secar la ropa al sol.
¿Puedo/Podría secar la ropa al sol? (asking permission)

Can I drop the article and say Quiero secar ropa al sol?

Yes, but it changes the nuance to “some clothes” or clothes in general, not a specific/known set. La ropa implies specific clothes already in mind.

Are there alternatives to al sol, like “outdoors” or “in the open air”?

Yes:

Al aire libre = outdoors/in the open air.
Al aire often implies airing out.
For shade: a la sombra. For drying specifically with sunlight, al sol is the most direct.

How would I say this as a plan or a future action?

Near future/plan: Voy a secar la ropa al sol.
Simple future: Secaré la ropa al sol. Both are correct; voy a is more common for plans.

How do I negate it?

Place no before the conjugated verb:

No quiero secar la ropa al sol. With a pronoun: No la quiero secar al sol / No quiero secarla al sol.

Is there a common Spain-specific way to say this idea?

Yes. People often say:

Voy a tender la ropa (al sol). You’ll also hear related words: tendedero (clothesline/airer), pinzas (clothespins), colada (laundry load), hacer la colada (to do the laundry).

Can I say Poner la ropa a secar al sol?

Yes. Poner (algo) a secar means “to put (something) to dry.” Example: Voy a poner la ropa a secar al sol. It emphasizes the act of setting it out so it can dry.

Should sol be capitalized here?

No. In this everyday expression it’s sol (lowercase). Sol (capitalized) appears in scientific/astronomical contexts as the proper name of the star.