question [ˈkwestʃən]
noun
1 (query) (also in exam) pregunta (f)
(are there) any questions? ¿(hay) alguna pregunta?
the President refused to answer further questions on the subject right, next question that’s a very difficult question to answer that question did come up in the examination he’d heard somewhere that the questions in economics examination papers stayed the same from year to year
to ask (sb) a question hacer una pregunta (a algn)
ask yourself this question hágase esta pregunta; what a question to ask! ¡vaya preguntita!; there’s a reward for the painting’s return, no questions asked se ofrece una recompensa sin preguntas por la devolución del cuadro; ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies más vale que no me preguntes
whenever she needed money he just handed it over, no questions asked most types of weapons are available for sae here with no questions asked they asked a great many questions about England a live audience will pose the questions could I ask you a question? «can you help me with this?» — «no» — «ask a silly question!»
«why didn’t you appoint him a year ago?» — «good question» —¿por qué no lo nombraste hace un año? —buena pregunta or —eso me pregunto yo
that’s a very [good] question «what does it look like?» — «that’s a very good question, and I don’t have the answer for you» «when does the war end?» — «that’s a very good question «does this happen in all societies?» «that’s a very good question. No, it doesn’t» «Where is it?» — «Good question; I don’t know» «could you control these kids any better?» — «good question!»
he posed three questions hizo or planteó tres preguntas
He posed two questions. He asked the future doctors if they would be willing to work in Ghana. He asked future engineers if they would be willing to work in the foreign service
to put a question to sb hacer una pregunta a algn
to put down a question to or for sb (Parl) formular una pregunta a algn
Liz Lynne is making her mark in Parliament by putting down a question to Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley about restrictive practices on the appointment of hospital consultants
to obey orders without question obedecer órdenes sin rechistar
they carried out the orders of their superior officers without question
the 64,000 dollar question la pregunta del millón
was she sure he had been Jim Prudhomme? — that was when I asked the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question: how did he sound?
indirect: indirect question
2 (matter, issue) cuestión (f)
the Palestinian question la cuestión palestina; that is the question de eso se trata; esa es la cuestión; that is not the question no se trata de eso; no es cuestión de eso
that’s another question altogether if the security question is not resolved the question is: where were you? I’m going to get there, the question is how he demanded that the Palestinian question should be on the agenda of any future summit the whole question of aid is a tricky political one it’s a question of deciding what you want to do it was just a question of having the time to re-adjust it’s all a question of politeness it is not always a question of what you say but how you say it it’s (all) a question of what you want to do eventually it is a question of whether … invasion was only a question of time
at the time in question a la hora en cuestión
the person in question
it is not simply a question of money no se trata simplemente de dinero; no es una simple cuestión de dinero
success is a question of time el éxito es cuestión de tiempo
this raises the question of her suitability esto plantea la cuestión de si es la persona adecuada
this [raises] the question of how well we really understand the ecosystem this raises the question of the political impact of some of these events
it’s only a question of time before he finds out solo es cuestión de tiempo que se entere
3 (possibility) posibilidad (f)
there is no question of outside help no hay posibilidad de ayuda externa
there can be no question of your resigning su dimisión no se puede admitir
there is no question of the taxpayer picking up the bill for the party for him, there was no question of betraying his own comrades
it’s out of the question! ¡imposible!; ¡ni hablar!
an interest rate cut is out of the question un recorte de los tipos de interés es imposible
is a tax increase still out of the question? for the homeless, private medical care is simply out of the question
4 (doubt) duda (f)
there is no question about it no cabe la menor duda de esto
there is no question about their success there is no question that this is better [beyond] question, [past] question
as a manager, her ability is beyond question como directora, su capacidad está fuera de toda duda
to bring or call sth into question poner algo en duda
Freud called into question some deeply cherished beliefs
my integrity has been brought or called into question mi integridad se ha puesto en duda
the paper says the president’s move has called into question the whole basis of democracy in the country with the loyalty of key military units in question, that could prove an extraordinarily difficult task recent literary theory has called into question traditional approaches to literature no man had ever called Lindemann’s courage into question the opposition has called into question the government’s ability to deal with the crisis Pearce’s postion has been brought into question following his unconvincing performance on Saturday
to be in question estar en duda
your professional ability is not in question no es tu capacidad como profesional lo que se pone en duda
it is not your ability to diet that is in question his very future as Prime Minister is in question what is in question is the nature of their relationship to [pose] a question
his findings pose questions about the future of these drugs sus descubrimientos hacen que se planteen preguntas sobre el futuro de estas drogas
to [raise] questions about over sth the unrest raised questions about the timing of the pull-out from Somalia this poses questions over the American nuclear commitment to Europe
this disaster raises questions about air safety in the region con el desastre se ha puesto en duda la seguridad aérea en la zona
questions have been raised about the treatment of prisoners
the question remains (as to) whether he can be trusted la duda or la cuestión sigue siendo si se puede confiar en él
the question remains (as to) whether there is any connection between these events the question remains, however, whether left-wing strategies would look any different the question remains whether the Iraqi leader can be trusted he question remains whether he was fully aware of the claims The question remains whether these groups can mobilize their troops the question [remains]: who/how/why …?
the question remains: how did she escape? la pregunta sigue ahí: ¿cómo escapó?
the question remains: who will be king? the question remains, however, what is the basis of a good political decision there’s [some] question about how to define «middle class»
there is some question as to whether he will sign hay or existen ciertas dudas sobre si firmará
there is some question about his survival as Party leader
without question sin duda; indudablemente
he was without question our greatest storyteller
5 (at meeting) cuestión (f); asunto (m)
to move the previous question plantear la cuestión previa; to put the question (to a vote) someter la moción a votación
transitive verb
1 (interrogate) [+exam candidate, interviewee] hacer preguntas a; [+suspect] interrogar; (Parl) [+minister, secretary] interpelar
you will be questioned on one of three topics se te harán preguntas sobre uno de tres temas; a suspect is being questioned by police la policía está interrogando a un sospechoso; they questioned him about his past le hicieron preguntas or le preguntaron acerca de su pasado
I questioned him about his early acting career when questioned about her reaction, she refused to comment this led the therapist to question Jim about his parents and their marriage police have been questioning everybody who was robbed time and time again, I have been questioned about how I can do such extensive internal work without the creation of serious postsurgical problems they questioned him closely about his movements on that night
the minister was questioned about his statement to Parliament se interpeló al ministro sobre su declaración ante el Parlamento
the minister was questioned on the source of funding for the project
2 (doubt) [+honesty, loyalty, motives] dudar de; poner en duda; [+decision, beliefs] poner en duda; cuestionar
I don’t question your honesty but I do question your motives you begin to question your own judgement it never occurs to them to question the doctor’s decisions there would be no reason to question the identity of the body they are not questioning its authenticity Weber is challenging his audience to question their own beliefs this has led some people to question how sincere he was they question whether Japan will live up to its promise I question whether it is worthwhile
modifier
question mark (n) signo (m) de interrogación; interrogante (m) (f)
a big question mark hangs over his future se plantea un enorme interrogante sobre su futuro
after that, a question-mark arose in the minds of many he tired badly in the last three rounds, which again posed question marks over his stamina a big question-mark hangs over him there is a question mark over whether the concert will go ahead
question master (n) interrogador (m)
question tag (n) coletilla (f) interrogativa
question tags like «isn’t it?», «can’t he?»
question time (n) (Britain) (Parl) sesión (f) de interpelaciones a los ministros
the catcalls and rowdiness, familiar to anyone listening to Prime Minister’s question time in the House of Commons
- Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2023:
| Principal Translations | ||
| Inglés | Español | |
| question n | (query) | pregunta nf |
| I have a question about the procedure. | ||
| Tengo una pregunta en cuanto al procedimiento. | ||
| question n | (matter, doubt) | cuestión nf |
| asunto nm | ||
| There are three questions that need to be resolved. | ||
| Hay tres cuestiones que deben resolverse. | ||
| question n | (function of, matter of) | cuestión nf |
| asunto nm | ||
| The completion date was a question of time and money. | ||
| La fecha de terminación era una cuestión de tiempo y dinero. | ||
| question [sb]⇒ vtr | (interrogate) | interrogar⇒ vtr |
| Note: Ante complemento directo de persona debe usarse la preposición «a». | ||
| The police questioned the suspect for five hours. | ||
| La policía interrogó al sospechoso durante cinco horas. | ||
| question [sth]⇒ vtr | (doubt) | dudar de vi + prep |
| cuestionar⇒ vtr | ||
| He questioned the usefulness of the rule, but never asked anybody about it. | ||
| El dudó de la utilidad de la regla, pero nunca le preguntó a nadie sobre ello. |
| Additional Translations | ||
| Inglés | Español | |
| question n | (interrogative sentence) | pregunta nf |
| Is that a statement or a question? | ||
| ¿Eso es una afirmación o una pregunta? | ||
| question n | (problem) (problema) | cuestión nf |
| Should I go or not? That is the question. | ||
| ¿Debo ir o no? Esa es la cuestión. | ||
| question n | (proposition) | propuesta nf |
| The question will be the subject of a vote at the town meeting. | ||
| La propuesta será el tema de una votación en la reunión municipal. | ||
| question n | (subject of dispute) | cuestión nf |
| The question of regional autonomy has never been resolved. | ||
| La cuestión de la autonomía regional nunca ha sido resuelta. | ||
| question n | (law: controversy) | controversia nf |
| (Derecho) | cuestión de fondo loc nom f | |
| The question before the court today is whether habeas corpus applies here. | ||
| La controversia que presentamos hoy ante el tribunal es si el habeas corpus aplica aquí. | ||
| La cuestión de fondo que presentamos hoy ante el tribunal es si el habeas corpus aplica aquí. | ||
| question⇒ vi | (ask questions) | preguntar⇒ vtr |
| You are free to question and dispute, but nothing will change as a result. | ||
| Estás en libertad de preguntar y discutir, pero nada cambiará como resultado de ello. | ||
| question [sth/sb]⇒ vtr | (inquire) | interrogar⇒ vtr |
| preguntar⇒ vtr | ||
| inquirir⇒ vtr | ||
| I questioned the actor for hours about his profession. | ||
| Interrogué al actor sobre su profesión durante horas. | ||
| question [sth]⇒ vtr | (challenge) | retar⇒ vtr |
| cuestionar⇒ vtr | ||
| desafiar⇒ vtr | ||
| In some countries one can be imprisoned for questioning authority. | ||
| En algunos países las personas pueden ser encarceladas por retar a las autoridades. |
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2023:
| Compound Forms: question |
||
| Inglés | Español | |
| ask a question v expr | (make enquiry) | preguntar⇒ vtr |
| hacer una pregunta loc verb | ||
| The teacher said to her students, «If you don’t understand the material, please ask a question!». | ||
| El profesor dijo a los alumnos, «si no entendéis la materia, por favor, preguntadme». | ||
| ask [sb] a question v expr | (want to know [sth]) | preguntar algo a alguien loc verb |
| hacerle una pregunta a alguien loc verb | ||
| My young daughter asks me a lot of questions. | ||
| Mi hija pequeña me pregunta muchas cosas. | ||
| beg the question v expr | (invite obvious question) | traer la pregunta loc verb |
| elevar la pregunta loc verb | ||
| beg the question v expr | (assume truth of argument) | evitar el tema, esquivar el tema loc verb |
| beyond question, beyond all question adj |
(certain) | más allá de toda cuestión loc adv |
| sin duda loc adv | ||
| más allá de toda duda loc adv | ||
| His integrity is beyond question. | ||
| Su integridad está más allá de toda cuestión. | ||
| bonus question n | (quiz question worth extra points) (concurso) | pregunta de bonus, pregunta extra nf |
| bring [sth] into question v expr | (cast doubt on [sth]) | cuestionar⇒ vtr |
| poner en duda loc verb | ||
| El jugador puso en duda su permanencia en el club el año próximo. | ||
| poner en tela de juicio loc verb | ||
| Hizo resonantes declaraciones a la prensa poniendo en tela de juicio la honestidad del funcionario. | ||
| burning question n | (urgent matter for discussion) | cuestión candente loc nom f |
| Note: Más que «urgente» es «de actualidad, interesante y polémico». | ||
| burning question n | (question needing an urgent answer) | tema prioritario loc nom m |
| I have a burning question. I need to know when you saw him last. | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El tema prioritario en la agenda de hoy es los damnificados por el huracán. | ||
| pregunta apremiante nf | ||
| call [sth] into question, call into question [sth] v expr |
(cast doubt on [sth]) | dudar de vi + prep |
| closed-ended question n | (enquiry eliciting «yes» or «no») | pregunta cerrada loc nom f |
| pregunta que se pueda contestar por sí o por no nf + loc adj | ||
| cross-examine [sb], cross-question [sb]⇒ vtr |
(law: interrogate witness) | interrogar a vtr + prep |
| repreguntar a vtr + prep | ||
| contrainterrogar a vtr + prep | ||
| direct question n | (interrogative sentence) | oración interrogativa nf + adj |
| A question mark always comes at the end of a direct question. | ||
| Siempre se usa un signo de interrogación al final de una oración interrogativa. | ||
| extraneous question n | usually plural (law: not strictly related) | cuestión superflua nf + adj |
| follow-up question n | (additional enquiry) | repregunta nf |
| Es una maestra de la repregunta, te va a resultar muy difícil darle respuestas evasivas. | ||
| good question n | (pertinent or insightful enquiry) | buena pregunta loc nom f |
| Should you give money to beggars? That is a good question. | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Es una buena pregunta, pero no sé cómo contestarla. | ||
| good question interj | (expressing [sth] not yet considered) | buen punto loc nom m |
| Do I love her enough to marry her? — good question! | ||
| ¿Si la amo lo suficiente como para casarme? Buen punto. | ||
| ¡vaya uno a saber! interj | ||
| ¿Si la amo lo suficiente como para casarme? ¡Vaya uno a saber! | ||
| in answer to your question expr | (in reply to you) | en respuesta a tu pregunta loc adv |
| (formal) | en respuesta a su pregunta loc adv | |
| In answer to your question, no, he’s not married. | ||
| En respuesta a tu pregunta, no, no está casado. | ||
| in question adv | (being considered or discussed) | en cuestión loc adv |
| en debate, en discusión loc adj | ||
| The judge noted that the legal precedent in question was quite tenuous. | ||
| El juez notó que el precedente legal en cuestión era demasiado endeble. | ||
| in question adv | (being disputed) | en cuestión loc adv |
| The legality of assisted suicide is in question in many countries. | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Lo que está en cuestión aquí es si se violó la ley o no, quizá la ley es injusta pero no es eso lo que está en cuestión. | ||
| en tela de juicio loc adv | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El hecho de que se haya comprobado tras diez años que un inocente fue ejecutado ha vuelto a poner la legalidad de la pena de muerte en tela de juicio. | ||
| en cuestionamiento loc adv | ||
| La legalidad del suicidio asistido está en cuestionamiento en muchos países. | ||
| indirect question n | (grammar) (gramática) | pregunta indirecta loc nom f |
| (gramática) | interrogativa indirecta loc nom f | |
| An example of an indirect question is, «Joe was wondering if Mary plans to go to the party.» | ||
| leading question n | (question that suggests answer) | pregunta capciosa nf + adj |
| open question n | (question: invites long answer) | pregunta abierta loc nom f |
| When interviewing someone, it is better to ask open questions which encourage them to talk about themselves. | ||
| Al hacer una entrevista, es conveniente hacer preguntas abiertas que alienten a que hablen sobre sí mismos. | ||
| open question n | (question: no decisive answer) | cuestión no resuelta loc nom f |
| How the project was going to be paid for remained an open question that needed an answer before voters would approve it. | ||
| La financiación del proyecto era una cuestión no resuelta que necesitaba una solución antes de que los votantes la aprobasen. | ||
| pregunta en el aire loc nom f | ||
| La cuestión sobre cómo iba a ser financiado el proyecto era una pregunta en el aire que necesitaba una respuesta antes de que los votantes la aprobasen. | ||
| incógnita nf | ||
| La cuestión sobre cómo iba a ser financiado el proyecto era una incógnita que necesitaba una respuesta antes de que los votantes la aprobasen. | ||
| open-ended question n | (question with many possible answers) | pregunta abierta nf + adj |
| The teacher told the students to ask open-ended questions. | ||
| El profesor le pidió a los alumnos que hicieran preguntas abiertas. | ||
| out of the question adj | (not possible or permitted) | fuera de discusión loc adj |
| It is out of the question for a twelve year old to go to a night club! | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Quién establece las pautas acá está fuera de discusión. | ||
| imposible adj | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Ir hoy es imposible, tengo muchísimo trabajo, iré mañana. | ||
| point in question n | (issue being discussed) | tema en cuestión, punto en cuestión nm + loc adj |
| Could we please return to the point in question? | ||
| ¿Podemos por favor regresar al tema en cuestión? | ||
| pop the question v expr | slang (propose marriage to [sb]) | proponer matrimonio loc verb |
| When will he ever pop the question? They’ve been dating for so long. | ||
| ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Finalmente se decidió y le va a proponer matrimonio a su novia. | ||
| pose a question v expr | (ask [sth], make an enquiry) | hacer una pregunta loc verb |
| One of the reporters posed a question about the Prime Minister’s reaction to recent events in Spain. | ||
| Uno de los reporteros hizo una pregunta sobre la reciente reacción del Primer Ministro a los eventos de España. | ||
| pose a question v expr | (raise an issue) | plantear un asunto loc verb |
| This defeat poses a question about the team’s ability to defend. | ||
| La derrota plantea el asunto sobre la habilidad de defensa del equipo. | ||
| previous question | (politics) | cuestión previa loc nom f |
| question at issue n | (matter being discussed) | la pregunta en cuestión grupo nom |
| That’s good to know … but the question at issue is entirely different. | ||
| Es bueno saber eso… pero la pregunta en cuestión es completamente diferente. | ||
| asunto en cuestión grupo nom | ||
| Es bueno saber eso… pero el asunto en cuestión es completamente diferente. | ||
| punto de discusión grupo nom | ||
| Es bueno saber eso… pero el punto en cuestión es completamente diferente. | ||
| question mark n | (interrogative punctuation symbol) | signo de interrogación loc nom m |
| A written sentence that is a question must end with a question mark. | ||
| Una oración que es una pregunta debe terminar con un signo de interrogación. | ||
| question mark n | figurative (element of doubt) | duda nf |
| There’s a question mark over his ability to manage the team. | ||
| Tengo dudas de que sea la persona adecuada para entrenar al equipo. | ||
| interrogante n amb | ||
| Lo que sabe o deja de saber sobre este asunto es un interrogante para nosotros. | ||
| incógnita nf | ||
| La obra plantea la incógnita pero deja al espectador la resolución. | ||
| entre interrogantes loc adj | ||
| Su capacidad para el puesto está entre interrogantes. | ||
| question of fact | (question concerning reality) | cuestión de hecho loc nom f |
| question of law n | ([sth] subject to legal interpretation) | cuestión legal loc nom f |
| Como se trata de una cuestión legal, y yo de eso no entiendo mucho, lo voy a consultar primero con mi abogado. | ||
| question tag n | (interrogative ending to a sentence) | coletilla interrogativa nf + adj |
| question time n | UK (law: government minister questioning) | turno de preguntas loc nom m |
| question-and-answer session n | (conference) | ronda de preguntas loc nom f |
| turno de preguntas loc nom m | ||
| The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. | ||
| La presentación estará seguida de una ronda de preguntas. | ||
| raise a question v expr | (ask [sth], enquire) | plantear una pregunta loc verb |
| Mark raised a difficult question during the meeting and nobody wanted to answer it. | ||
| Mark planteó una pregunta difícil durante la reunión y nadie quería responderle. | ||
| raise a question v expr | (pose an issue) (fig) | poner sobre el tapete loc verb |
| The report raises the question of how to deal with the unemployed. | ||
| El informe volvió a poner sobre el tapete el problema del desempleo. | ||
| rhetorical question n | (statement in form of a question) | pregunta retórica loc nom f |
| Una pregunta retórica es una pregunta que generalmente se efectúa sin esperar respuesta. | ||
| subject in question n | (matter under discussion) | tema de discusión rgupo nom |
| asunto en cuestión loc nom m | ||
| tag question n | (interrogative ending to a sentence) | coletilla interrogativa nf + adj |
| «¿No es cierto?» ,»¿o acaso no?», «¿no es así?» son algunas de las coletillas interrogativas que se usan en español. | ||
| there is no question interj | (it is indisputable) | no hay duda expr |
| no cabe duda expr | ||
| sin duda expr | ||
| He’s an evil man; there is no question. | ||
| Es una mala persona. No hay duda. | ||
| there is no question, there is no question (that/of) expr |
(it is indisputable that) | es indiscutible que expr |
| es innegable que expr | ||
| There is no question many citizens resent paying taxes. | ||
| Es indiscutible que a muchos ciudadanos les molesta pagar impuestos. | ||
| no hay duda de que expr | ||
| No hay duda de que a muchos ciudadanos les molesta pagar impuestos. | ||
| trick question n | ([sth] asked to mislead or incriminate [sb]) | pregunta trampa, pregunta engañosa nf + adj |
| No contestes. Es una pregunta trampa. | ||
| pregunta capciosa nf + adj | ||
| yes-no question n | (only two possible answers) | pregunta sí o no grupo nom |
| (formal) | pregunta binaria nf + adj |
What is the verb to question in Spanish?
To start with, some Spanish question words can vary according to the number and gender of the person or thing they are referring to: Quién changes to Quiénes when it is plural. Cuál changes to Cuáles when it is plural….Open Questions and Spanish Question Words.
| Qué | What |
|---|---|
| Dónde | Where |
| Cuál | Which |
| Por qué | Why |
| Cómo | How |
How do you use question words in Spanish?
Other uses of the Spanish question word ‘Qué’ in sentences are as following:
- “¿Qué haces esta noche?” or “What are you doing tonight?”.
- “¿Qué significa esto?” or “What does this mean?”.
- “¿Qué quieres comer?” or “What would you like to eat?”.
What are the types of questions in Spanish?
Asking questions in Spanish is pretty straightforward. There are two main kinds of questions: closed questions and open questions….With a question that you’re pretty sure will get a yes answer, you can use one of the following tags at the end:
- ¿no?
- ¿verdad?
- ¿no es verdad?
- ¿no es cierto?
What is the meaning of C in CV?
curriculum vitae
What is the full form of C language?
full form of c is combit language.
What does C1000 mean?
concentrations producing 1000-rad-equivalents
Do vitamin C pills work?
Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to help prevent colds. But findings have been inconsistent. Overall, experts have found little to no benefit from vitamin C for preventing or treating the common cold.
Is it safe to take vitamin C everyday?
Advertisement. For adults, the recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, and the upper limit is 2,000 mg a day. Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, megadoses of vitamin C supplements might cause: Diarrhea.
John answered the question.
Juan contestó la pregunta.
We answered the question.
Nosotros contestamos la pregunta.
The President sets that question as one of the priorities in the campaign.
El presidente sitúa esa cuestión como una de las prioridades en la campaña.
I answered (contestar) the question (la pregunta).
Yo contesté la pregunta.
Did you answer the question?
¿Contestaste la pregunta?
We answer the question.
Nosotros contestamos la pregunta.
The boys answered the question.
Los muchachos contestaron la pregunta.
The pupil asked the teacher a question.
El alumno hizo una pregunta al profesor.
No, we will not ask that question because the lesson shows us how to conjugate the verb of the day.
No, no le haremos esa pregunta porque la lección nos muestra como conjugar el verbo del día.
Do you think it’s a question of time?
¿Crees que sea cuestión de tiempo?
He didn’t know how to answer the question.
No ha sabido contestar a la pregunta.
Do you have any question? Anything that is not clear?
¿Tienes alguna pregunta que quieras hacernos?, ¿alguna cuestión no te ha quedado clara?
None of that!
¡Nada de eso!
He can repeat the question.
Él puede repetir la pregunta.
I don’t like that you question everything I say.
No me gusta que cuestiones todo lo que digo.
The questionnaire is not complete, answer the last question please.
El cuestionario no está completo, contesta a la última pregunta por favor.
that’s open to question
Es un caso discutible
You have to raise your hand if you have a question.
Tienen que levantar la mano si tienen una pregunta
Please raise your hand if you have a question.
Por favor levanten su mano si tienen una pregunta.
John answered the question.
Juan contestó la pregunta.
This is not in question.
No hay discusión sobre este punto.
That is out of the question.
Esto no es admisible.
The question is how and where.
La cuestión es cómo y dónde.
My question to you is: why should that be?
Yo les pregunto: ¿cuál debe ser el motivo?
That is out of the question.
Esto no es posible.
My question to you is this:
Le planteo la siguiente pregunta:
There is no question about that.
No hay ninguna duda al respecto.
There is no question about that.
No cabe ninguna duda.
The only question is: when for?
La única cuestión es: ¿para cuándo?
I do not question that.
Eso no lo discuto.
The question is how we do that.
La cuestión es cómo hacerlo.
There is no question about that.
De eso no cabe duda.
No, that is not the question!
¡No, esa no es la cuestión!
So, I have a question.
Así pues, quiero hacer una pregunta.
The question is, how do we do that?
La cuestión es cómo hacerlo.
But that is not my question.
Pero no es esa mi pregunta.
That is my question to you.
Ésa es la pregunta que le planteo.
All this should be out of the question.
Todo esto debería ser incuestionable.
The question is what we do about it.
La cuestión es qué hacemos en este ámbito.
There is no question of that.
Sobre esto no cabe ninguna duda.
But we have to question this.
No obstante, es algo que tenemos que plantearnos.
It is not a question of that.
No es cuestión de eso.
The question is how to do it.
La cuestión es cómo hacerlo.
And the question is, why?
La pregunta es «¿por qué?».
Are you? That is my question.
Y mi pregunta es: ¿lo hacen ustedes?
The question is, why not?
La cuestión es: ¿por qué no?
There is no question about that.
No cabe duda.
There is no question about that.
De esto no hay duda.
I have a question about each.
Quiero hacerle una pregunta a cada uno de ellos.
That was not the question at all.
No creo que fuera ésa la pregunta en modo alguno.
So that is out of the question.
Por consiguiente, no es posible.
There is no question about that.
De eso no hay ninguna duda.
So that is out of the question.
Por lo tanto no se puede hacer lo que se ha sugerido.
There is no question about that.
Esto es indiscutible.
There is no question about that.
No hay duda de ello.
There is no question about that.
No hay ninguna duda al respecto.
Because what is the question here?
En efecto, ¿qué propone el informe?
That would be out of the question.
Queda fuera de toda discusión.
That is my question to you.
Ésa es mi pregunta.
That is not in question.
De esto no cabe la menor duda.
We do not question that.
No lo dudamos.
There is no question about that.
Sin duda alguna.
There is no question about that.
No hay ninguna duda al respecto.
There is no question about it.
No existe la menor posibilidad.
So that is my question.
Esta es pues mi pregunta.
It is not a question of parallelism, it is a question of substance.
No es una cuestión de paralelismo, es una cuestión de fundamento.
The question has been raised, and it is more than a question, it is a choice.
La cuestión ha sido planteada, y más que una cuestión se trata de una elección.
We usually reply question by question.
Solemos contestar pregunta a pregunta.
The first question is my question.
La primera pregunta es la mía.
It is a question of justice; it is a question of sensitivity.
Se trata de una cuestión de justicia, de una cuestión de sensibilidad.
[ view all sentence pairs ]
Subjects>Jobs & Education>Education
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Best Answer
Copy
Pregunta is the Spanish word for «question».
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
This answer is:
Study guides
Add your answer:
Earn +
20
pts
Q: What is the word question in Spanish?
Write your answer…
Submit
Still have questions?
Related questions
People also asked
I love teaching question words in Spanish. If you know the question words, you can ask about anything and become independent in the Spanish-speaking world. After all, it’s “better to ask the way than to go astray.”
I like to start my lesson about question words in Spanish with an Argentinean song “Cómo, dónde y por qué” (How, where and why?):
¿Por qué cae la lluvia? ¿Por qué?
¿Dónde se encuentra Dios? ¿Por qué?
¿Cómo nacen los chicos?
¿De dónde vengo yo?
¿Por qué existe la guerra? ¿Por qué?
¿Y cómo se inventó? ¿Por qué?
¿Dónde termina el cielo?
¿Qué cosa es el amor?
(..)
¿Por qué los animales, por qué,
no viven en la selva? ¿Por qué?
¿Por qué les pones rejas?
¿Y quién los engañó?
Do you know why? Yes! There are so many question words in this Spanish song. I didn’t include the translation so that you can see if you understand it after you finish reading this article. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to check if your translation is right at the end.
Ready for the challenge?
Question Words in Spanish
Question words in Spanish and English have the same function—they start interrogative sentences. In Spanish, you always need to put an accent mark over them.
Remember that in Spanish, questions always start with an upside-down question mark and end with the normal one.
Let me show you in detail the 7 most important question words in Spanish.
1. ¿Qué? – What?
Qué usually means “what.” It’s the most common question word in Spanish and one of the most common Spanish words in general. It holds third place on the list of most frequently used Spanish words.
¿Qué es esto?
What’s this?
¿Qué quieres?
What do you want?
¿Qué me vas a decir?
What are you going to tell me?
¿Qué hiciste ayer?
What did you do yesterday?
¿Qué debería comer?
What should I eat?
2. ¿Quién/Quiénes? – Who?
Another popular question word in Spanish is quién, meaning “who.” In Spanish, it varies in number—it has a singular form quién and a plural form quiénes.
If you’re asking about the identity of more than one person, and your verb is in the plural, you’ll use quiénes.
¿Quién es él?
Who is he?
¿Quiénes son ellos?
Who are they?
¿Quién habla?
Who’s speaking?
¿Quién es?
Who is it?
¿Quiénes son esas personas?
Who are these people?
3. ¿Dónde? – Where?
A useful question word in Spanish when traveling is dónde (where). It will help you avoid getting lost in a new place.
¿Dónde está la farmacia?
Where is the pharmacy?
¿Dónde están los baños?
Where are the bathrooms?
¿Dónde estás?
Where are you?
You can also use it in combinations ¿de dónde? (From where?) And ¿A dónde? (To where?)
¿De dónde venimos?
Where do we come from?
¿A dónde vamos?
Where do we go?
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
¿A dónde viajas?
Where are you traveling to?
4. ¿Cuándo? – When?
Another key question word in Spanish is cuándo (when).
¿Cuándo vienes?
When are you coming?
¿Cuándo sale el tren?
When does the train leave?
¿Cuándo empieza la película?
When does the movie start?
5. ¿Cómo? – How?
Cómo usually (but not always) translates to “how.”
¿Cómo se dice esto en español?
How do you say it in Spanish?
¿Cómo quieres tu taco?
How do you want your taco?
¿Cómo lo haces?
How do you do it?
¿Cómo te llamas?
What’s your name?
6. ¿Cuál/Cuáles? – Which?
Cuál is another question word in Spanish with both singular and plural forms. Use the plural form, cuáles, when asking about more than one thing.
¿Cuál manzana quieres?
Which apple do you want?
¿Cuáles zapatos quieres?
Which shoes do you want?
Cuál and cuáles usually translate into “which” but you can also translate it into “what.”
¿Cuál es tu libro favorito?
What’s your favorite book?
¿Cuál es tu nombre?
What’s your name?
What’s the difference then between qué and cuál, if they can both translate into “what”?
¿Qué? asks to identify a thing. It asks for its name or definition, and there’s only one possible answer.
Meanwhile ¿cuál? requires you to select from a bigger group. There might be many possible answers.
¿Qué es un “guajolote”?
What is a “guajolote”?
¿Cuál es tu película favorita?
What’s your favorite movie?
7. ¿Por qué? – Why?
This is the kids’ favorite question word in Spanish: ¿por qué? (why?).
Remember to write it as two separate words and with an accent (not to confuse it with porque meaning “because”).
¿Por qué quieres verme?
Why do you want to see me?
¿Por qué el cielo es azul?
Why is the sky blue?
¿Por qué los Mexicanos comen tanto chile?
Why do Mexicans eat so much chili?
Question Words in Spanish – Summary
Let’s put everything together one more time.
Today, you learned how to say 7 English question words in Spanish. They are:
Remember to include the accent mark and the inverted question mark at the beginning.
Are you ready to translate the song from the beginning? Try it!
Check if you got it right below. I put the question words in Spanish and English in bold:
¿Por qué cae la lluvia? ¿Por qué?
¿Dónde se encuentra Dios? ¿Por qué?
¿Cómo nacen los chicos?
¿De dónde vengo yo?
¿Por qué existe la guerra?¿ Por qué?
¿Y cómo se inventó? ¿Por qué?
¿Dónde termina el cielo?
¿Qué cosa es el amor?
(..)
¿Por qué los animales, por qué,
no viven en la selva? ¿Por qué?
¿Por qué les pones rejas?
¿Y quién los engañó?
Why does the rainfall? Why?
Where is God located? Why?
How are children born?
Where do I come from?
Why does war exist? Why?
And how was it invented? Why?
Where does heaven end?
What is love?
(..)
Why animals, why,
do not live in the jungle? Why?
Why do you put bars on them?
And who tricked them?
Did you manage to get them all right? Great! Now, you’re ready for the quiz.
Question Words in Spanish – Quiz
Choose the correct question words in Spanish. Remember there is only one possible answer.
1. ¿______ es ella?(Who is she?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
2. ¿______ vivían los Aztecas? (Where did the Aztecs live?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
3. ¿______ me vas a llamar? (When are you going to call me?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
4. ¿______ es tu nombre? (What’s your name?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
5. ¿______ te llamas? (What’s your name?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
6. ¿______ son ellos? (Who are they?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
7. ¿______ me preguntas a mí? (Why are you asking me?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
8. ¿______ quieres para comer? (What do you want to eat?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
9. ¿______ vestido me queda mejor? (Which dress suits me better?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
10. ¿______ llegaste aquí? (How did you get here?)
Qué
Quién
Quiénes
Dónde
Cuándo
Cómo
Cuál
Cuáles
Por qué
Question Words in Spanish
Wow, you’ve mastered question words in Spanish! Good job!
You’ve got a solid understanding of how to use question words in Spanish and the quality of your Spanish conversations are exploding through the roof!
You’ve almost mastered question words in Spanish. Your consistent practice is leading to better results!
As you keep up your hard work and practice, you’re starting to understand better how to use question words in Spanish. For more study materials, keep up-to-date with our newest published blog posts at Homeschool Spanish Academy. *YOU’RE ALMOST THERE! You can do it!* Do you prefer learning with videos? Check out our YouTube channel Spanish Academy TV for the best Spanish learning content on the web!
Practice makes perfect! Keep on studying!
Your motivation to learn Spanish is an essential ingredient to success! If you’re ready to take your Spanish to the next level and master the usage of question words in Spanish, then join us for a free Spanish class with one of our friendly, certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. Sign up today!
Why Learn Spanish?
Well done! You’ve learned a lot about question words in Spanish! Your next goal should be to use all the question words in Spanish in a conversation.
Being bilingual is worth the effort. Who knows, maybe one day, you’ll get a raise because you know Spanish? Yes! According to a study by The Economist, you can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $125,000 extra just by knowing a foreign language alone.
Start today! Sign up right now for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Let our friendly and professional teachers from Guatemala help you reach your fluency goals and practice question words in Spanish in a 1-to-1 conversation! Check out our affordable pricing and flexible programs!
Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!
- Author
- Recent Posts
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
I’m a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master’s degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I’ve lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I’m currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.
As interrogative (question) words, ‘qué’ and ‘cuál’ are quite important to pose questions in Spanish. Depending on the context, both qué and cuál can be translated either as ‘what’ or ‘which’. Therefore, knowing when to use these words can be challenging for new Spanish speakers.
So, what’s the difference between qué vs cuál? When meaning ‘what’, qué asks for a definition, time, or explanation, whereas cuál is used to ask for personal information. When meaning ‘which’, ‘qué’ asks about objects and preferences. ‘Cuál’ asks to make a choice between two options.
Since most of the mistakes with question words are related to ‘qué’ vs ‘cuál’, in this article, we’ll explain the difference between these words. Then, so you know how to use each word correctly, we’ll provide you with phrase structures and examples that you can use to practice and master these two words.
What’s the difference between qué vs cuál
Both qué and cuál are Spanish words used to ask questions. Generally, qué means ‘what’ and cuál means ‘which’. However, this is not always the case. Depending on the context, they could either be translated as ‘what’ or ‘which’ and most of the time these words are not interchangeable.
| Qué | Cuál | |
| Definitions & Uses |
Means ‘what’ when asking for: 1. Definitions 2. Explanations 3. Meanings 4. Time Means ‘which’ when asking about: |
Means ‘what’ when asking about personal information.
Means ‘which’ when asking people to: |
| Variants | None | Singular: Cuál Plural: Cuáles |
| Examples | ¿Alguien sabe qué son los tacos? Does anybody know what tacos are? Ismael, ¿qué pastel quieres probar? |
Adriana, ¿cuáles son tus colores favoritos? Adriana, what’s are your favorite colors? ¿Cuál mochila quieres? ¿La negra o la azul? |
In the following sections, we’ll talk more in-depth about these words and how to use them.
Get a Copy of My Free Tricky Spanish Words Cheat Sheet
Join the Tell Me In Spanish community and get a copy of my tricky words cheat sheet, including ‘qué’ vs ‘cuál’. You’ll also get my Spanish Learner’s Roadmap, showing you the exact Spanish language topics to learn.
When and How to use Qué and Cuál
In English, ‘what’ and ‘which’ are mutually exclusive terms, however as we’ve seen above, qué and cuál are usually exclusive and distinct (i.e. not interchangeable), but there can be overlap and sometimes qué can mean ‘which’.
Below, we’ll go into further detail on when to choose which interrogative word to use given the situation and how to use them in sentences.
Qué: Asking for definitions and explanations – What
As mentioned before, most of the time ‘qué’ is the direct translation of ‘what’. In these cases, our purpose is to ask about the time or get to get an explanation, a meaning, or a definition. Here are some basic phrases structures that you can use with this intention.
¿Qué + [ser conjugated] + article [noun]?
Inés, ¿qué es una llama?
Inés, what is a llama?
Oye, Pepé, ¿qué son las enchiladas?
Hey, Pepé, what are enchiladas?
Usually, we use ‘qué’ and the verb ‘ser’ to ask for a definition or meaning.
Tip: This is especially useful when you’re learning Spanish and you don’t know the meaning of a word and want to ask for the translation.
When talking about meanings and definitions, you could also use the following variation:
¿Qué + [significar conjugated] + [noun/expression]?
Inés, ¿qué significa güey en español?
What does güey mean in Spanish?
¿Qué significa ‘tomar al toro por los cuernos’?
What is the meaning of ‘tomar al toro por los cuernos’?‘
Although the previous examples and structures are meant to help you ask about meanings and definitions, you can use ‘qué’ to get any sort of explanation or to ask about the time.
¿Qué + [verb conjugated] + [complement]?
Disculpa, ¿qué hora es?
Excuse me, what time is it?
¿Qué hace un contador, Diego?
Diego, ¿qué hace un contador?
Oigan, ¿qué van a hacer en Costa Rica?
Hey guys, what are you going to do in Costa Rica?
Related: How to use ser in Spanish
Qué: Asking about preferences and objects – Which
We mentioned before that in some instances, ‘qué’ can be used to ask about preferences and objects. In these situations, ‘qué’ means ‘which’. This is the phrase structure that we use for this case:
¿Qué + [noun] + [verb conjugated]?
¿Qué color te gusta?
Which color do you like?
Luis, ¿qué computadora me recomiendas que compre?
Luis, which computer do you recommend me to buy?
¿Sabes qué países va a visitar Mario en verano?
Do you know which countries Mario is going to visit in the summer?
As mentioned before, in this context, you could also use ‘cuál’.
¿Cuál + [verb conjugated]?
¿Cuál color te gusta?
Which color do you like?
Luis, ¿cuál computadora me recomiendas que compre?
Luis, which computer do you recommend me to buy?
In this situation, there’s something that you need to keep in mind. In Spain, people use more ‘qué’ than ‘cuál’ and, in Latinamerican countries, it’s the other way around. However, both words are correct in this context.
Take Note: Even though qué doesn’t have a plural form, it can work when referring to plural nouns. In these cases, you only need to conjugate the verb properly.
Cuál: choosing from a group of objects – Which
We also use ‘cuál’ when we want to ask people to choose between multiple objects or ideas. Here is the sentence structure to build these types of questions as well as some examples:
¿Cuál + de + [article / pronoun] + [verb conjugated]?
Sergio, ¿cuál de estos museos es mejor?
Sergio, which of these museums is the best?
No sé qué color elegir, Mayra, ¿cuáles de estas blusas te gusta?
I don’t know what color to pick, Mayra, which of these blouses you like?
The previous structure is kind of long because it allows us to describe the objects that we want someone to choose from. However, if the context is clear enough, you can make your sentences shorter:
¿Cuál + [noun] + [verb conjugated]?
Sergio, ¿cuál museo es mejor?
Sergio, which museum is better?
No sé qué color elegir, Mayra, ¿cuál blusa te gusta?
I don’t know what color to pick, Mayra, which blouse you like?
Take Note: Cuál has a plural form. When using it, we’re asking people to choose more than one object.
Cuál: Identifying people or objects – Which
One big difference between ‘cual’ and ‘qué’ is that in Spanish we use ‘cuál’ when we want to identify an object from a specific group. In this context, ‘cuál’ would be translated as ‘which’. Here are some examples and phrase structures that you can use:
¿Cuál + ser [conjugated]?
¿Cuál es el salón de español?
Which one is the Spanish classroom?
Giovanna, ¿cuál es tu mochila?
Giovanna, which one is your backpack?
Juan, ¿cuáles son las playas más bonitas de Cuba?
Juan, which are the most beautiful beaches in Cuba?
In this case, it’s very common that new Spanish learners use both ‘qué’ and ‘cuál’. First, they will use ‘qué’ to ask about a definition or explanation. Then, they will use ‘cuál’ to get more specific details. Here is an example:
| Spanish | English |
| Tú: Oye, ¿qué es el tequila? | You: Hey, what’s tequila? |
| Tu amigo: Es una bebida mexicana. | Your friend: It’s a Mexican drink. |
| Tú: Y, ¿cuál sabe mejor? | You: And which one is the best? |
Additionally, in conversational Spanish, sometimes people may use ‘cuál’ instead of ‘quién’ to identify a person from a larger group of people. However, keep in mind that in this context, we’re actually able to see this group of people.
¡Hay muchas mujeres rubias en la sala! ¿Cuál de todas es tu novia?
There are a lot of blond women in the living room! Which of them is your girlfriend?
Cuál: Asking for personal information – What
Usually cuál is translated into ‘which’ with the sole exception when asking questions to get people’s personal information. In this context, it’s english equivalent is ‘what’ and we can use ‘cuál’ to get information such as:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Marital status
- Major / Career
- Passwords
- Favorite things
Here are some examples of how to use ‘cuál’ for this situation:
Naomi, ¿cuál es tu apellido?
Naomi, what’s your last name?
Agustín, ¿cuál es la carrera de tu hermano?
Agustín, ¿what’s your brother’s major?
Si quieres, puedo pasar por ti, ¿cuál es tu dirección?
If you want, I can pick you up, what’s your address?
¿Tú sabes cuáles son los colores favoritos the Regina?
Do you know which ones are Regina’s favorite colors?
Take Note: When talking about preferences and favorite things, ‘qué’ is more used in Spain whereas ‘cuál’ is more popular in Latin American countries. The main difference between these situations is the grammar elements you use:
¿Cuál + ser [conjugated]?
¿Cuál es tu color favorito?
What’s your favorite color?
¿Qué + [noun] + [verb conjugated]?
¿Qué color es tu favorito?
What’s your favorite color?
Wrapping Up
In this article, we learned the differences between ‘qué’ and ‘cuál’ in Spanish. Here are the key points to remember:
Key points
Qué:
- It’s translated as what when asking for meanings, translations, definitions, explanations or time.
- It only has a singular form. It does not have a plural form.
- Means which when asking about people’s preferences and objects.
Cuál:
- Means what when asking about personal information such as name, address, email, favorite things, etc.
- Otherwise, it’s always translated as which
- Has plural and form that need to match with the noun we’re talking about.
- Identifies an object or a person from a larger group.
- Asks about preferences and objects.
- It can be used to ask people to make a choice between two or more objects.
Related Resources
Qué vs Cuál Spanish Quiz
One of the biggest things students tend to neglect when they first start studying is Spanish question words. Maybe people think that there are other things that are more important at first, but the fact is, asking questions in Spanish is a huge part of the conversation.
How will you understand anything if you don’t understand the most crucial word in the question? So today, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about Spanish question words so that the next time someone asks you something, you don’t respond only with ¿qué?
What are the question words in Spanish?
Question words, also known as interrogative pronouns, are words that we use to request more information about a specific part of the sentence. In English, we refer to them as the 5 W’s – Who, What, Where, When, and Why.
Spanish, unlike English, has many more question words and can change based on the type of information being requested. They also always have an accent mark on them, so make sure you don’t forget that.
So let’s go over all the different ways you can ask questions in Spanish so that you’re prepared for anything.
Why is the Spanish question mark upside down?
A quick note before we get started – the upside-down question mark (¿). Many English speakers find this to be a bit strange at first, but for someone who is learning Spanish, it’s an incredibly convenient tool.
You always put an inverted question mark at the beginning of a question or interrogative clause. So for example:
- ¿Dónde está el baño? – Where’s the bathroom?
- Hoy la entrada es gratis, ¿verdad? – Entrance is free today, right?
This helps the reader know, right at the beginning, it’s a question. This can really help with comprehension. However, you’ll notice that people rarely do this when they’re texting or in very informal contexts.
Great, now that we know that the inverted question mark is important, let’s get right into all the different question words in Spanish!
Qué
This is the first of the interrogative words that you’ll need to know. It means, “What?” and in most cases, is used similarly to English.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Qué haces? | What are you doing? |
| ¿Qué película quieres ver? | What movie do you want to watch? |
| ¿Qué te gusta hacer? | What do you like to do? |
This usage of Qué is very easy since you are simply requesting more information about the subject of the sentences. Normally, you’ll give a specific response to these questions.
However, qué can also be used in conjunction with any preposition, making this one of the most useful Spanish question words.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿A qué hora quedamos? | What time are we hanging out? |
| ¿De qué me hablas? | What are you talking about? |
| Si no tengo sartén, ¿con qué hago la cena? |
If I don’t have a pan, what do I make dinner with? |
DID YOU KNOW…
… That the RAE lists 12 different uses for Qué and 16 different uses for Que? So the best plan is to just take it one step at a time and learn each use in context.
Cuál / Cuáles
This word means “which” in English and, for the most part, it’s used in similar ways. You would use Cúal and Cuáles to ask for a specific noun when there is a limited number of options available. For example:
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Cuál es tu libro favorito? | Which book is your favorite? |
| ¿Cuál te gusta más? | Which do you like better? |
| De estos zapatos, ¿cuáles son tuyos? |
Which of these shoes is yours? |
When the noun you’re requesting is singular, then you would use Cuál, when it’s plural, then you would use Cuáles.
As you can see, you can use this when there’s a limited number of possibilities. For example, in the first sentence, “¿cuál es tu libro favorito?”, in theory, there’s a limited number of books, so we use this question word.
QUICK TIP
Usually, for Spanish questions about your favorite X, the correct question word is Cuál.
Cuánto / Cuánta / Cuántos / Cuántas
This is another great set of words to know for asking questions in Spanish. We use all of these question words to request information about a quantity or an amount.
Cuánto is for a singular masculine subject (that’s uncountable) or a verb, Cuánta is for a singular feminine subject (that’s uncountable), Cuántos is for a plural masculine subject, and Cuántas for a plural feminine subject.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? How much does it cost?
- ¿Cuánta pasta tenemos en casa? – How much pasta de we have at home?
- ¿Cuántos días de vacaciones tienes? – How many vacation days do you have?
- ¿Cuántas manzanas quieres? – How many apples do you want?
So the next time you decide to travel to a Spanish-speaking country, this Spanish question word is going to be crucial if you want to do any shopping.
Cómo
This is another one of the most important words for asking questions in Spanish. It means “how”. This might have been the first Spanish question word that you learned, especially since ¿cómo te llamas? and ¿cómo estás? tend to be Day 1 topics.
- ¿Cómo se llega a la playa? – How do you get to the beach?
- ¿Cómo lo hago? – How do I do it?
- ¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name (How do you call yourself)?
- ¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
So this one is one of the easier ones, but here’s a pro tip: You can say ¿Cómo? if you want someone to repeat something. This usually is a better option than ¿Qué? since it can come off a little rude depending on how you say it.
Cuándo
This is another easy question word that is used exactly the same way in the English language, too. This is translated as “when”.
- ¿Cuándo nos vamos? – When are we leaving?
- ¿Desde cuándo vives aquí? – Since when do you live here?
Dónde / De dónde / A dónde
These common Spanish question words keep getting easier and easier! This one should be pretty simple, as well. When you are requesting information about a location, you would use Dónde. And De dónde is the same thing, but when you need to include the preposition.
As you can see, in Spanish grammar, we prefer to include the preposition at the beginning, rather than at the end like in English.
- ¿Dónde está Susana? – Where is Susana?
- ¿De dónde eres tú? – Where are you from?
- ¿Dónde pongo la bolsa? – Where do I put the bag?
- ¿A dónde vas? – Where are you going (to)?
This is another one of the first question words that you probably learned. The first question in Spanish you might have learned is, “¿De dónde eres?”
The word Lo has a wide arrange of uses: as a direct object pronoun, definite article, and many more. Check out our guide to master Lo in Spanish like a native.
Quién / Quiénes / De quién / A quién / Con quién
This set of Spanish question words functions similarly to Cuánto, Cuánta, etc. Depending on the answer, the question word can change. If the subject is singular, you’d use Quién. If the subject is plural, then you’ll use Quiénes. And if you’re asking for an object, you’ll use either De quién or A quién or Con quién depending on the question.
- ¿Quién te dijo eso? – Who told you that?
- ¿Quiénes son esas personas? – Who are those people?
- ¿De quién es este móvil? – Whose phone is this?
- ¿A quién vas a enviar esas flores? – Who are you sending those flowers to?
- ¿Con quién vas a salir? – Who are you going out with?
So as you can see in the last three examples, the use of a preposition + quién is requesting information about the object of the question, not the subject. This part can be a little tricky since, in English, we don’t really use this anymore.
In English you should say “To whom are you sending those flowers”, but we as English speakers have decided to evolve past that. But in Spanish, these prepositions with the right question word help you have more precise questions.
Por qué / Para qué
These two are often a bit difficult for people because they sound similar, but they have completely different meanings. Por qué means “why”, requesting the source reason for something. Whereas Para qué means “for what”, requesting information about the goal behind something. Let’s look at some examples:
- ¿Por qué quieres ir allí? – Why do you want to go there?
- ¿Por qué preguntas eso? – Why do you ask?
- ¿Para qué vas al supermercado si vas a pedir comida? – What do you go to the grocery store for if you’re going to order takeout?
- ¿Para qué le dices esas cosas? – What do you tell him these things for?
These two can be tricky because sometimes they can both be used in the same sentence, but the meanings change.
- ¿Por qué le pegaste?
- ¿Para qué le pegaste?
In a case like this, the first question is asking for the reason. For example, “¿Por qué estás en la cama? – Porque me siento mal”. In both of these cases, the answer should probably start with “porque”.
One of the most difficult parts of learning a language is when words that sound the same have different meanings. Check our guide on Porque vs. Por qué to understand the differences between the 4 Ways to say Porque in Spanish.
In the second sentence, the question is focusing on the goals of what happened. As in, “what did you hope to accomplish?”. The answer could be “Para que se callara” (So that he would shut up).
This last set of question words is definitely the most difficult because it has conceptual differences and in English, they’re both translated to “why”. So it just takes some practice seeing it in context and eventually, you’ll have an ah-ha! moment.
Other ways to ask questions
Intonation
So just like in English, you can ask a question without actually using any Spanish question words. This may sound strange, but you probably do it all the time.
All you have to do is have a higher-pitched voice towards the end of the sentence, and you can ask a question in Spanish.
- ¿¡No tienes Instagram!? – You don’t have Instagram!? **
- Nos vemos a las 5, ¿no? – I’ll see you at 5, right?
- ¿Hemos visto esta película ya? – Have we already seen this movie?
So in all these examples, the only thing you need to do is raise the pitch of your voice towards the end of the sentence and it forms a question. In fact, you can do this with nearly any statement in Spanish to form a question.
The best part is that this intonation rule applies to questions with and without interrogatives, so this is something you should always be doing.
Now you’re going to notice that you do the same thing in English all the time.
** The punctuation can change here, you can put the exclamation points (!¡) before or after the question marks (¿?). It’s up to personal preference.
QUICK TIP…Want to learn Spanish, fast?
Download our e-book, Spanish Spanish Shortcuts, and learn your first 1,000 Spanish words in under a day!