Question words in Spanish (what, why, when, how, who, where)

How to ask questions in Spanish?

Question words (what, where, when,...) are used to gather information or inquire about something. 

•  ¿Qué estás haciendo? (What are you doing)

•  ¿Dónde estás? (Where are you?)

•  ¿Quién viene a la fiesta? (Who is coming to the party?)

Question words in Spanish

"Qué y cuál" (what and which)

The word "what" is one of the most commonly used when asking questions in Spanish. "Qué" and "cuál" both translate to "what" in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Qué" is used when there are multiple options or when the question is open-ended, while "cuál" is used when there's a specific selection or choice involved.

 In Spanish, you always start a question with an inverted question mark before the question word or phrase. Close your question with a normal question mark, like you would in English.  
¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)

"Cuándo" (when)

The question word "cuándo" translates to "when" in English. It is used to inquire about specific points in time or the timing of events. Understanding how to use "cuándo" is essential for asking and understanding questions related to time.

"Dónde" (where)

In Spanish, "dónde" translates to "where" in English. This question word is essential for asking about locations or positions. 

"Cómo" (how)

When it comes to asking about the manner or way in which something is done, the question word "cómo" is indispensable. Translating to "how" in English, "cómo" is used to inquire about methods, processes, or descriptions. 

Depending on the context, "cómo" can also translate to "what" in English:
¿Cómo te llamas? (What is your name?)
¿Cómo es tu primo? (What is your cousin like?)

"Cuánto/s & Cuánta/s" (how much/how many)

Notice how we use either the singular or plural form of the word in Spanish. It can be used both in masculine or feminine forms.
¿Cuántas manzanas compraste en el supermercado? (How many apples did you buy at the supermarket?)Las manzanas (the apples) is feminine, plural, so we have to use cuántas (how many), which also refers to feminine, plural.

"Quién" (who)

Inquiring about people or identities in Spanish often involves the question word "quién," which translates to "who" in English. Whether you're asking about someone's name, role, or attributes, understanding how to use "quién" is essential.

Listening exercise

You can practice using the question words in Spanish with the following dialogue.

Prepositions with question words in Spanish

Question words can also be combined with prepositions, changing the structure and meaning of a sentence. 

"Por qué" (why)

When we pair the preposition "por" with the question word "qué," the resulting phrase, "por qué," translates to "why." This combination delves into the reasons or motives behind actions or situations. 

Be careful: If written all together and without an accent, it translates to “because”. 
Porque quería un cambio. (Because I wanted a change.)

"Para qué" (what...for)

Incorporating the preposition "para" with the question word "qué" forms "para qué," which translates to "for what" or "what for" in English. This combination inquires about the purpose or intended outcome of an action or event.

"De quién" (whose/who)

When the preposition "de" is combined with the question word "quién," the resulting phrase, "de quién", translates to "whose" in English. This construction is utilized to inquire about possession or ownership.

"Con quién" (who...with/with...whom)

Combining the preposition "con" with the question word "quién" forms "con quién", which translates to "with whom" or "who with" in English. This combination is employed to inquire about companionship or association.

In English, we can end a question with a preposition but in Spanish we can’t do that. The preposition must come at the beginning followed by a question word. Let's have a look at the following examples:
 ¿Quién estás yendo con? (Who are you going with?) wrong!
¿Con quién estás yendo? (Who are you going with?) correct

"Adónde" (where...to)

When the question word "dónde" is preceded by the preposition "a" the resulting phrase, "adónde," translates to "where to" in English. This combination is used to inquire about destinations or directions.

"De qué" (of what/what)

Pairing the preposition "de" with the question word "qué" forms "de qué", which translates to "of what" or "about what" in English. This combination is utilized to inquire about the content or subject matter of something.

Listening exercise

This exercise illustrates how question words can combine with prepositions in Spanish.