qué
/keh/
Just like a question mark, 'qué' is used to ask for information. It's your go-to word for 'what' or 'which'.
qué (Question Word)
📝 In Action
¿Qué es eso?
A1What is that?
¿Qué hora es?
A1What time is it?
No sé qué hacer.
A2I don't know what to do.
¿Qué libro estás leyendo?
A2Which book are you reading?
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent is Essential
When asking a question, 'qué' MUST have the accent mark (´). This is how you tell it apart from 'que' (which means 'that').
'Qué' vs. 'Cuál'
Use 'qué' before a noun (¿Qué libro?) or to ask for a definition (¿Qué es la paella?). Use 'cuál' to ask 'which one?' from a group (¿Cuál prefieres?).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "¿Que quieres?"
Correction: ¿Qué quieres? Without the accent, it's a different word ('que' = that). The accent mark signals it's a question word.
⭐ Usage Tips
Indirect Questions Count Too
Even when you're not asking directly, if the idea of 'what' is there, you still need the accent. For example: Dime qué piensas (Tell me what you think).
Paired with exclamation marks, 'qué' boosts the emotion of a sentence, meaning 'what a...!' or 'how...!'
qué (Exclamatory Word)
📝 In Action
¡Qué día tan bonito!
A2What a beautiful day!
¡Qué sorpresa!
A2What a surprise!
¡Qué rápido conduces!
B1How fast you drive!
¡Qué bien!
A1How great!
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent is Still Here!
Just like in questions, 'qué' in exclamations always needs its accent mark (´). It signals strong feeling.
Two Simple Patterns
To say 'What a [thing]!', use ¡Qué + noun!. To say 'How [adjective]!', use ¡Qué + adjective!. For example, ¡Qué coche! (What a car!) and ¡Qué grande! (How big!).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cómo' for 'How'
Mistake: "¡Cómo rápido!"
Correction: ¡Qué rápido! In exclamations like this, Spanish uses 'qué' to mean 'how'. 'Cómo' is generally for asking the question 'How?'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding 'Más' or 'Tan'
You'll often hear ¡Qué casa más bonita! or ¡Qué día tan bonito!. Adding 'más' or 'tan' after the noun is a common way to add extra emphasis, but the meaning is the same: 'What a beautiful house!'
In a more advanced sense, 'el qué' refers to the core or the essential part of something—its 'what-ness'.
qué (Noun)
📝 In Action
El qué de la cuestión es si tenemos suficiente tiempo.
C1The essence of the matter is whether we have enough time.
Esa canción tiene un qué que me emociona.
B2That song has a certain something that moves me.
Logró entender el qué del problema.
C1He managed to understand the heart of the problem.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When used as a noun to mean 'the essence', 'qué' is always masculine, so you'll see it with 'el' or 'un'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Not for Everyday Chat
This usage is quite advanced and not common in casual conversation. You're more likely to encounter it in literature or formal discussions.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: qué
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'qué' to express 'What a beautiful painting!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single biggest difference between 'qué' and 'que'?
The accent mark! 'Qué' with an accent is used for questions ('What?') and exclamations ('What a...!'). 'Que' without an accent is a connector word, usually meaning 'that' or 'which' (e.g., 'Creo que sí' - 'I think that yes.').
When do I use 'qué' and when do I use 'cuál' for 'what' or 'which'?
It's a tricky point! A simple rule is: use 'qué' before a noun ('¿Qué color te gusta?' - 'What color do you like?'). Use 'cuál' when you're choosing 'which one' from a list, even if the list isn't spoken ('¿Cuál es tu favorito?' - 'Which one is your favorite?').
Why do people sometimes say '¡Qué cosa más rara!' instead of just '¡Qué cosa rara!'?
Both are correct! Adding 'más' or 'tan' (like in '¡Qué día tan bonito!') is a very common way to add a little extra emphasis in exclamations. It doesn't change the basic meaning, but it makes the exclamation feel a bit stronger and is very natural in conversation.