Question words (interrogative words) are essential for asking for information. Learn the seven main question words in Spanish and how to use them.
These are the most common question words you'll use:
| ¿Qué? | What? |
| ¿Quién? | Who? (singular) |
| ¿Dónde? | Where? |
| ¿Cuándo? | When? |
| ¿Cuál? | Which one? / What? (choice) |
| ¿Cuánto? | How much? (singular) |
| ¿Cómo? | How? |
All question words carry an accent mark (tilde) in Spanish.
These two words are often confused. The difference is subtle but important:
¿Qué es eso? = What is that? (asking for a definition)
¿Cuál es tu libro? = Which one is your book? (choosing from options)
¿Qué haces? = What do you do? (asking for activity)
¿Cuál prefieres? = Which one do you prefer? (making a choice)
In Spanish, the question word always comes first. Use inverted question marks to start questions:
¿Dónde vives? = Where do you live?
¿Cuándo es la clase? = When is the class?
¿Quién es ella? = Who is she?
¿Cómo se llama? = What is your name? (How is he/she called?)
¿Cuánto cuesta? = How much does it cost?
Some question words change for plural contexts:
¿Quiénes son tus amigos? = Who are your friends?
¿Cuántas personas hay? = How many people are there?
Complete with the correct question word:
¿_________ es tu nombre? → Cuál (Which one is your name?)
¿_________ vives? → Dónde (Where do you live?)
¿_________ es la hora? → Cuál (What time is it?)
¿_________ libros tienes? → Cuántos (How many books do you have?)
Traps for English speakers
These are the errors English speakers make most often.