que
“que” means “that” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
El libro que leo es interesante.
A1The book that I'm reading is interesting.
La casa que tiene el techo rojo es mía.
A1The house that has the red roof is mine.
Espero que vengas a la fiesta.
A2I hope that you come to the party.
📝 In Action
Soy más alto que mi hermano.
A2I am taller than my brother.
Este coche es menos caro que el otro.
A2This car is less expensive than the other one.
Prefiero el té que el café.
B1I prefer tea to (literally: than) coffee.
📝 In Action
¿Qué es eso?
A1What is that?
¡Qué sorpresa!
A1What a surprise!
¡Qué bonito es el vestido!
A2How beautiful the dress is!
No sé qué hacer.
A2I don't know what to do.
📝 In Action
¡Que te diviertas!
B1Have fun! (Literally: May you have fun!)
Que tengas un buen día.
A2Have a good day.
Que entre el siguiente paciente.
B2Let the next patient come in.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: que
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'que' to mean 'than'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'quid', meaning 'what'. Over time, it merged with other Latin words like 'quem' (whom) and 'quod' (which) to become the super-versatile connector it is today.
First recorded: Evolved during the transition from Vulgar Latin to Old Spanish, around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single biggest rule for 'que' vs. 'qué'?
It's all about the accent! If you are asking a question (What? When? How?) or making an exclamation (What a day! How nice!), use 'qué' with an accent. For everything else, like connecting ideas ('the man that...') or comparing ('taller than...'), use 'que' with no accent.
Why do I see 'de que' sometimes? What's the difference?
That's a great question for intermediate learners! Some verbs need the little word 'de' before 'que'. For example, 'estar seguro de que' (to be sure that). This is a tricky topic called 'dequeísmo', but for now, just learn these as complete phrases and you'll be fine.
Do I always need 'que' in sentences like 'I hope you are well'?
Yes, almost always. While in English you can say 'I hope you are well', in Spanish you must include the connector: 'Espero que estés bien'. Leaving it out is a very common mistake for English speakers.