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cuando

KWAHN-dohˈkwando

when, whenever

Also: since
A child running outside while it rains, showing two events happening at the same time.

📝 In Action

Me gusta leer cuando estoy tranquilo en casa.

A1

I like to read when I am peaceful at home.

Llámame cuando llegues al hotel.

B1

Call me when you get to the hotel.

Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho al fútbol.

A2

When I was a child, I played soccer a lot.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • en el momento en que (at the moment that)
  • siempre que (whenever)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • de vez en cuando – from time to time
  • cuando sea – whenever / anytime
  • aun cuando – even when

Idioms & Expressions

  • Cuando las ranas críen pelo – Something that will never happen

back when, during

A small pair of baby shoes sitting next to a large pair of adult boots to represent a past stage of life.

📝 In Action

Cuando niño, vivía en un pueblo pequeño.

B2

As a child (back when I was a child), I lived in a small town.

Eso pasó cuando la guerra.

C1

That happened during the war.

Cuando mi abuelo, no había internet.

B2

In my grandfather's time, there was no internet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • durante (during)
  • en tiempos de (in the times of)

Common Collocations

  • cuando joven – as a young person
  • cuando estudiante – when I was a student

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cuando" in Spanish:

back when→if→when→whenever→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cuando

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly talks about a future event?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cuándo(when (question)) — Adverb
cuandoquiera(whenever) — Conjunction
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'quando,' which served the same purpose of indicating time and linking events.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: quandoPortuguese: quandoFrench: quand

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I always need to use the subjunctive after 'cuando'?

No! Only use it if you are talking about something that has not happened yet. If you are talking about a habit (I do it when I can) or the past (I did it when I was there), use the regular verb forms.

How do I say 'Whenever' in Spanish?

You can use 'cuando sea' for 'whenever/anytime' or 'siempre que' for 'every time that.' 'Cuando' on its own often covers the meaning of 'whenever' in general statements.

Why is there no accent on 'cuando' in a sentence like 'I don't know when he arrives'?

Actually, in that specific sentence, it SHOULD have an accent ('No sé cuándo llega') because it is an indirect question. Use 'cuando' (no accent) only when it is a simple bridge between two ideas.