cuándo
/KWAN-doh/
when
As an adverb, cuándo (with an accent) is the essential question word meaning 'when?'.
📝 In Action
¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?
A1When is your birthday?
No sé cuándo llegará el tren.
A2I don't know when the train will arrive.
Dime cuándo podemos hablar.
B1Tell me when we can talk.
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Mark is Your Signal!
The little line (accent mark) over the 'a' is a huge clue. It tells you that 'cuándo' is being used to ask a question about time. The version without the accent, 'cuando', is used for statements.
Use it in Direct and Indirect Questions
You'll use 'cuándo' in obvious questions with question marks (¿Cuándo vienes?), but also inside a statement that talks about a question (No sé cuándo vienes - I don't know when you're coming).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "¿Cuando es la fiesta?"
Correction: ¿Cuándo es la fiesta? The accent is not optional; it's required to show you're asking 'when?'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking 'How Long?'
To ask about duration or starting points, combine 'cuándo' with small words like 'desde' (since) or 'hasta' (until). For example, '¿Desde cuándo estudias español?' (Since when have you been studying Spanish?).
As a formal noun, el cuándo refers to the specific time or moment that an event occurs.
📝 In Action
Lo importante no es el qué, sino el cuándo.
C1The important thing is not the what, but the when.
El cuándo de su llegada es todavía un misterio.
C1The when of his arrival is still a mystery.
⭐ Usage Tips
Turning a Question into a Concept
In Spanish, you can put 'el' in front of question words like 'cuándo', 'dónde' (where), or 'porqué' (why) to turn them into nouns. This is a neat trick for talking about abstract ideas like 'the when', 'the where', or 'the why'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuándo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly asks about the time of an event?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simple difference between 'cuándo' and 'cuando'?
Think of the accent mark on 'cuándo' as a little flag that says 'This is a question!'. Use 'cuándo' with an accent to ask 'when?'. Use 'cuando' without an accent to mean 'when' in a statement, like connecting two ideas: 'I read when I have time' (Leo cuando tengo tiempo).
Can I start any sentence with 'cuándo'?
Yes, if it's a direct question. For example, '¿Cuándo vamos a comer?' (When are we going to eat?). If it's not a question, the sentence will usually start with 'cuando' (no accent).