Inklingo

How to Say "how" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cómo

AdverbA1/B1General
Use 'cómo' when asking about the manner or way something is done, or to express surprise or emphasis in an exclamation.

Examples

¿Cómo llegaste tan rápido?

How did you get here so fast?

que

/keh//ke/

Question & Exclamation WordA1General
Use 'qué' (with an accent) in exclamations to express a high degree of something, similar to 'how' in phrases like 'How beautiful!'
A glowing question mark and exclamation point, representing 'qué' used for asking 'what?' and making exclamations like 'what a...!'

Examples

¡Qué sorpresa verte aquí!

How surprising to see you here!

¿Qué es eso?

What is that?

¡Qué sorpresa!

What a surprise!

¡Qué bonito es el vestido!

How beautiful the dress is!

The Magic Accent

The accent mark is key! Use 'qué' for questions and exclamations. Use 'que' (no accent) for connecting ideas and comparing.

'Qué' vs. 'Cuál'

Mistake: “Asking '¿Qué es tu nombre?' is a common error from English.”

Correction: When asking for specific information like a name or phone number, use 'cuál': '¿Cuál es tu nombre?' Use 'qué' to ask for a definition: '¿Qué es un nombre?' (What is a noun?).

lo

/loh//lo/

ArticleB1General
Use 'lo' when referring to 'how much' or 'how' something is, often followed by an adjective or adverb, to express an unspecified degree.
An image of a thermometer at its maximum to show how 'lo' can be used to emphasize the degree of something, like 'how hot it is'.

Examples

No sabes lo cansado que estoy.

You don't know how tired I am.

No te imaginas lo difícil que es este examen.

You can't imagine how difficult this exam is.

Me sorprende lo bien que hablas español.

I'm surprised by how well you speak Spanish.

¡Mira lo alto que es ese edificio!

Look how tall that building is!

The Emphasis Formula

The pattern is simple and fixed: lo + [adjective or adverb] + que. It's a special structure used to add extra punch to your description.

Forgetting the 'que'

Mistake: “No sabes lo cansado estoy.”

Correction: No sabes lo cansado que estoy. (You don't know how tired I am.) This special emphasis structure always needs 'que' after the descriptive word.

cuan

/kwahn//kwan/

AdverbC1Formal/Literary
Use 'cuan' to express a high degree or extent, often in more formal or literary contexts, similar to 'as' or 'how much'.
A colorful storybook illustration showing two perfectly identical green trees standing side-by-side on a small hill, emphasizing they are the same height and size.

Examples

Cuan importante es la puntualidad, lo demuestra este caso.

How important punctuality is, this case demonstrates.

Cuan grande era su pena, así de noble fue su espíritu.

As great was his sorrow, so noble was his spirit.

Debemos actuar cuan pronto sea posible.

We must act as soon as possible.

Cuan bueno es que el sol brille.

How good it is that the sun shines.

A Shortened Form

‘Cuan’ is a shortened version (linguists call this 'apocope') of the word 'cuánto' or 'cuán'. It is only used when it comes immediately before an adjective or another adverb (like 'pronto' or 'grande').

Formal Comparisons

In modern Spanish, 'cuan' is almost always replaced by 'tan' (as/so) in comparisons. Using 'cuan' signals a very elevated, old-fashioned, or poetic style.

Using 'Cuan' in Questions

Mistake: “¿Cuan lejos está?”

Correction: ¿Cuán lejos está? (or simply, ¿A qué distancia está?)

Cómo vs. Qué for Exclamations

A common error is confusing 'cómo' and 'qué' in exclamations. Remember that 'qué' is used alone to express 'how!' (e.g., ¡Qué bonito!), while 'cómo' is used when the exclamation describes an action or state, often implying 'how much!' (e.g., ¡Cómo llueve!).

Related Translations

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