The following are the most commonly used interrogative words in Spanish and their equivalent in English:
Interrogative words |
¿qué? |
what? |
¿adónde? |
where to? |
¿dónde? |
where? |
¿de dónde? |
where from? |
¿cuándo? |
when? |
¿para qué? |
what for? |
¿cómo? |
how? |
¿por qué? |
why? |
¿cuál(es)? |
which one? |
¿cuánto(a)?
|
how much?
|
¿quién(es)? |
who? |
¿cuántos(as)? |
how many? |
¿de quién(es)? |
whose? |
¿a quién(es)? |
whom? |
The general use of these words should present no problem, but there are a few other uses that you should be aware of:
¿Cómo? and ¿qué? are used to ask someone to repeat information you missed or were unable to hear. Spanish speakers use both words all the time, but "cómo" is used in a more formal setting. Take a look at the examples below:
- Mucho gusto. Mi nombre es Juan.
(Nice to meet you. My name is Juan.)
- ¿Cómo? ¿Puede repetir su nombre?
(What? Can you repeat your name?)
- Mi nombre es Juan.
(My name is Juan.) |
- Aquí hay mucho ruido.
(There is a lot of noise here.)
- ¿Qué? ¿Qué dijiste?
(What?) (What did you say?)
- ¡Dije que aquí hay mucho ruido!
(I said there is a lot of noise here!) |
¿Cuál? means "which one" and we use it to ask about a selection. If you are making a description or a definition, use ¿qué? instead:
- Estas corbatas están limpias. ¿Cuál prefieres?
(These ties are clean. Which one do you prefer?)
--In this example, both ties are being shown and the question refers to a selection. |
- ¿Qué corbata te vas a poner esta noche?
(What tie are you going to wear tonight?)
-- In this example the ties are not visible and the question refers to a description. |
Note that "cuál" is followed by a verb and "qué" is followed by a noun. |
¿Cuánto? generally asks for information referring to price or amount, and ¿cuántos? is used for "how many?".
- ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
(How much does this cost?) |
- ¿Cuántos chicos vienen hoy?
(How many kids are coming today?) |
¿Adónde? is a directional question: it usually indicates motion or destination. ¿De dónde? indicates procedence.
- ¿Adónde crees que vas?
(Where do you think you are going?) |
- ¿De dónde eres? ¿Y de dónde vienes?
(Where are you from? And where are you coming from?) |
¿Para qué? y ¿por qué? are the equivalent of "why?". However, "¿para qué?" is used to ask about purpose, where as "¿por qué?" is used to ask about reason. Note that the answers to these questions are different:
- ¿Por qué quieres dinero?
(Why do you want money?)
- Porque quiero comprar algo.
(Because I want to buy something.)
|
- ¿Para qué necesitas dinero?
(Why do you need money?)
- Para comprar unos libros.
((In order to) buy books). |
Indirect questions |
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Indirect questions pass along a direct question posed by a third person. In Spanish we incorporate the question into a statement, and we keep the accent marks:
- Tu padre llama y pregunta qué necesitas.
(Your father calls (is calling) and asks (is asking) what you need.)
- María quiere saber adónde vas.
(María wants to know where are you going.)
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