Question Words and How to Use Them
Interrogatives are question words used to ask for specific information. In Spanish, all interrogatives carry an accent mark (tilde) and are used with inverted question marks (¿?) at the beginning and end of questions.
Important Rules
1. Always use accent marks: ¿Qué?, ¿Dónde?, ¿Cuándo? (not que, donde, cuando)
2. Use inverted question marks: ¿...?
3. Some interrogatives change for plural: ¿Quién? → ¿Quiénes?, ¿Cuál? → ¿Cuáles?
4. Word order: Interrogative + verb + subject (often inverted from English)
These are the most common question words you'll use in everyday Spanish conversations.
Asks about things, objects, actions, or definitions. Used when asking "what" in general. Can be used alone or before nouns and verbs.
What (General)
¿Qué es esto?
What is this?
What + Verb
¿Qué haces?
What are you doing?
What + Noun
¿Qué libro lees?
What book are you reading?
What Did You Say
¿Qué dijiste?
What did you say?
Asks about people or their identity. Use the plural form "¿Quiénes?" when expecting multiple people in the answer. Can also combine with prepositions.
Who (Singular)
¿Quién es ella?
Who is she?
Who (Plural)
¿Quiénes son ellos?
Who are they?
With Whom
¿Con quién hablas?
With whom are you talking? / Who are you talking with?
Whose (De quién)
¿De quién es este libro?
Whose book is this? (literally: Of whom is this book?)
Asks about location or place. Can combine with prepositions to create more specific location questions (¿De dónde? = From where, ¿Adónde? = To where).
Where (Location)
¿Dónde está el baño?
Where is the bathroom?
Where (Action)
¿Dónde vives?
Where do you live?
From Where
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
To Where
¿Adónde vas?
Where are you going (to)?
Asks about time, dates, or when something happens. Used for both specific times and general time periods.
When (General)
¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?
When is your birthday?
When (Action)
¿Cuándo llegaste?
When did you arrive?
When (Future)
¿Cuándo vamos a salir?
When are we going to leave?
Since When
¿Desde cuándo estudias español?
Since when have you been studying Spanish?
Asks for reasons, causes, or explanations. Always written as two separate words with an accent on "qué." The answer typically uses "porque" (because, one word).
Why (Reason)
¿Por qué estudias español?
Why do you study Spanish?
Why + Question
¿Por qué no vienes a la fiesta?
Why aren't you coming to the party?
Question & Answer
¿Por qué estás triste? — Porque perdí mi teléfono
Why are you sad? — Because I lost my phone
Asks for a choice or selection among options. Often translates to "which" or "what" in English. Used when asking someone to choose or identify from a group.
Which One (Singular)
¿Cuál prefieres?
Which one do you prefer?
Which Ones (Plural)
¿Cuáles son tus favoritos?
Which ones are your favorites?
What Is (Identity)
¿Cuál es tu nombre?
What is your name?
Which Of
¿Cuál de estos libros quieres?
Which of these books do you want?
¿Qué? — Asks for a definition or asks "what" before a noun
¿Cuál? — Asks for selection or choice, or "what" with the verb "ser" (asking for identity)
Asks about manner, method, or state. Used to ask how something is done, how someone feels, or to ask someone to repeat (like "what?" in English).
How (State/Feeling)
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
How (Manner)
¿Cómo se hace esto?
How is this done?
What (Repeat)
¿Cómo? No te escuché
What? I didn't hear you
What's Your Name
¿Cómo te llamas?
What's your name? (literally: How do you call yourself?)
Asks about quantity or amount. Must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use singular for uncountable things and plural for countable items.
How Much (Singular)
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much does it cost?
How Much (Feminine)
¿Cuánta agua necesitas?
How much water do you need?
How Many (Masculine Plural)
¿Cuántos años tienes?
How many years old are you?
How Many (Feminine Plural)
¿Cuántas personas vienen?
How many people are coming?
These interrogatives are formed by combining basic question words with prepositions, creating more specific questions.
For what purpose? / What for?
Asks about the purpose or goal of an action. Different from "¿Por qué?" which asks for a reason.
¿Para qué estudias tanto?
What are you studying so much for? / For what purpose are you studying?
¿Para qué sirve esto?
What is this for?
From where?
Asks about origin or source. Commonly used to ask where someone is from.
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
¿De dónde viene este producto?
Where does this product come from?
To where? / Where to?
Asks about destination or direction. Used with verbs of movement.
¿Adónde vas?
Where are you going?
¿Adónde me llevas?
Where are you taking me?
Whose?
Asks about possession or ownership. Literally means "of whom."
¿De quién es esta chaqueta?
Whose jacket is this?
¿De quiénes son estos libros?
Whose books are these? (multiple owners)
Until when? / How long?
Asks about the duration or endpoint in time.
¿Hasta cuándo te quedas?
Until when are you staying? / How long are you staying?
¿Hasta cuándo dura la película?
How long does the movie last?
With whom?
Asks about companionship or who someone is with.
¿Con quién vives?
Who do you live with?
¿Con quiénes fuiste al cine?
Who did you go to the movies with?
All Spanish interrogatives at a glance. Remember: they all carry accent marks and use inverted question marks!
Asking questions correctly is essential for natural conversations in Spanish. A tutor can help you practice forming questions, using the right interrogatives, and understanding native speakers' responses.