Learn Spanish (Spain): De primero, quiero la sopa.

De primero, quiero la sopa.

As a starter, I want the soup.

Breakdown of De primero, quiero la sopa.

querer

to want; to love (a person)

Questions & Answers about De primero, quiero la sopa.

Why do we use De in De primero to mean 'As a starter'?

In Spanish, the preposition de is often used to indicate a role or function. When ordering a meal in Spain, you will commonly use de primero (for the first course), de segundo (for the main course), and de postre (for dessert).

Why is it primero and not primer here?

You only drop the final 'o' to make it primer when the word comes directly before a masculine singular noun, like in el primer plato (the first course). Because it stands entirely alone here, it keeps the 'o' and stays primero.

Is it polite to use quiero (I want) when ordering food?

Yes! While 'I want' might sound a bit demanding in English, quiero is a perfectly normal, polite, and common way to order in Spain. You do not need to overcomplicate it with extra polite words, though you might also hear locals say para mí (for me) or me pone (serve me).

Can I just say sopa instead of la sopa?

It is much better to say la sopa. In English, you might casually say 'I want soup', but Spanish speakers almost always include the definite article (el or la) when ordering a specific item that is listed on a restaurant menu.