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Ever felt like you have a million questions but don't know how to ask them? In conversation, questions are the keys that unlock doors to new information, friendships, and understanding. In Spanish, mastering a few core question words will instantly level up your conversational skills.
Today, we're going to build your foundation by focusing on the "Big Four"—the essential building blocks for getting the information you need.
Let's dive into who, what, where, and when!
The Golden Rule: The Mighty Accent Mark
Before we meet our new friends, there's one crucial rule. In Spanish, when these words are used to ask a question, they always have an accent mark (a tilde).
quién(who)qué(what)dónde(where)cuándo(when)
This little mark is a signal to the reader that a question is being asked. It's a small detail with a big impact!
Pronunciation Pro-Tip
The accent mark also tells you where to put the stress when you say the word. So, for cuándo, you'd stress the "a" sound: cuán-do.
1. The 'Who' of the Matter: Quién & Quiénes
When you want to know about a person or people, quién is your go-to word. The cool part is that it has a singular and a plural form, making you sound extra sharp when you use it correctly.
Quién (Who - singular)
Use quién when you're asking about just one person.
- ¿Quién es tu profesorateacher (female)? (Who is your teacher?)
- ¿Quién tiene mi librobook? (Who has my book?)
Quiénes (Who - plural)
Use quiénes when you're asking about two or more people.
- ¿Quiénes son tus amigosfriends? (Who are your friends?)
- ¿Quiénes van a la fiestaparty? (Who is going to the party?)
See the difference? It's all about how many people you're asking about.
Drag the handle to compare
Test Your Knowledge!
Time for a quick check. Choose the correct word for the sentence below.
You see a group of musicians. How would you ask 'Who are they?'
2. Getting to 'What': Qué
Qué is one of the most versatile words in Spanish. It means 'what' or 'which' and is perfect for asking for definitions, explanations, or information about things.
Use qué to ask for a definition or explanation:
- ¿Qué es eso? (What is that?)
- ¿Qué significa 'vale'? (What does 'vale' mean?)
You can also use qué directly before a noun to ask "what" or "which":
- ¿Qué películamovie quieres ver? (What movie do you want to see?)
- ¿A qué hora es la cenadinner? (At what time is dinner?)
Qué vs. Cuál
You might hear Spanish speakers use another word, cuál, for 'what' or 'which'. The qué vs. cuál debate is a big topic! For now, remember this simple rule: use qué when asking for a definition (¿Qué es...?) or when it's right before a noun (¿Qué libro...?). We'll tackle cuál in another lesson!
Unscramble This!
Practice putting a sentence with qué together. Drag the words into the correct order.
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
3. Pinpointing 'Where': Dónde
Need to find a location? Dónde is the word you need. It's your trusty tool for navigating the world, whether you're looking for a bathroom or a beach.
- ¿Dónde está el bañorestroom? (Where is the restroom?)
- ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?)
The Dónde Trio: Location, Destination, & Origin
Dónde has two popular cousins that add a layer of precision to your questions.
| Word | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde? | Asks about a static location. | ¿Dónde está la biblioteca? (Where is the library?) |
| ¿Adónde? | Asks about a destination (to where). | ¿Adónde vas? (Where are you going to?) |
| ¿De dónde? | Asks about an origin (from where). | ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?) |
Think of the "a" in adónde as adding a sense of "to" or motion towards a place.
You want to ask someone where they are traveling *to* for vacation. Which word do you use?
4. Timing it Right: Cuándo
Last but not least, let's talk about time. Cuándo is how you ask 'when'. It's essential for making plans, setting appointments, and talking about schedules.
- ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleañosbirthday? (When is your birthday?)
- ¿Cuándo empieza el conciertoconcert? (When does the concert start?)
- ¿Cuándo llegaste a EspañaSpain? (When did you arrive in Spain?)
It's straightforward and incredibly useful. If your question is about time, date, or a moment, cuándo is your word.
Let's Recap the Big Four
You've just added four of the most powerful words to your Spanish toolkit. Let's do a quick review:
- Quién / Quiénes? → Asks about People 🧍
- Qué? → Asks about Things / Definitions 💡
- Dónde? → Asks about Places 📍
- Cuándo? → Asks about Time ⏰
Don't Forget!
Always remember to use the inverted question mark (¿) at the beginning of your written questions and the tilde (´) over the question word itself!
Mastering these four words opens up a whole new world of conversation. You can now find out who people are, what they're doing, where they're going, and when they'll be there.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how we learn!