Using '¿Qué?' instead of '¿Mandé?'

In many regions (especially Mexico), using '¿Qué?' when someone calls you can sound abrupt or rude. 'Mandé' is the polite, respectful way to acknowledge the call.

A Polite Alternative

This usage is typical in Mexico and Central America. In Spain, you would more commonly use '¿Dime?' or '¿Sí?'

Regional Use

Extremely common in Mexico and parts of Central America as a polite response.

Confusing Preterite and Imperfect

'Mandé' is the simple past (preterite) form for 'I'. It describes a single, completed action in the past, like 'I sent it yesterday'.

Preterite Tense

Common use referring to the action of sending something in the past.

When 'mandar' means 'to command' and is followed by another person doing the action, it usually requires the special verb form (subjunctive): 'Mandé que viniera' (I commanded that he come).

Influence and Change

Use this meaning primarily in military, historical, or high-level organizational contexts, or when talking about who is 'the boss'.

Formal Contexts

Less common than 'to send,' but important for formal or hierarchical contexts.

'Mandé' is the 'yo' form of the past tense of 'mandar' ('I sent' or 'I commanded'). Crucially, in Mexican Spanish, it is the standard polite interjection meaning 'Yes?' or 'Pardon?'

mandar

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

conditional

present

preterite

imperfect

future

imperative

affirmative

negative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations