How to Say “What” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding how to express “what” in Spanish is crucial for forming questions, expressing surprise, and clarifying information. This seemingly simple word has several translations depending on the context, making it a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar.
Mastering these variations will significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively and understand native speakers. This guide is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced, who want to refine their understanding of Spanish interrogatives and exclamations.
Whether you’re just starting your Spanish journey or looking to polish your skills, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use “what” in Spanish.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “What” in Spanish
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of “What” in Spanish
- Examples of “What” in Spanish
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of “What” in Spanish
The English word “what” can be translated into Spanish in several ways, primarily as qué, cuál (or cuáles), and lo que. Each of these forms serves a distinct function and is used in different contexts.
Qué is generally used to ask for definitions, explanations, or general information. It often precedes a noun or a verb. The function of qué is to elicit information about the nature or characteristics of something. It can act as an interrogative adjective or pronoun.
Cuál (and its plural form cuáles) is used to ask about a choice or selection from a set of possibilities. Cuál usually stands alone or is followed by the verb ser (to be). Its primary function is to identify a specific item or items from a group. It functions as an interrogative pronoun.
Lo que translates to “what” as a relative pronoun, meaning “that which” or “what” in the sense of a concept or idea. It introduces a clause and refers to something previously mentioned or understood. The function of lo que is to connect two parts of a sentence, where the second part clarifies or expands on the first.
Structural Breakdown
Understanding the structure of how these words are used in sentences is crucial for correct usage.
Qué typically appears at the beginning of a question and is often followed by a verb. It can also be followed by a noun, in which case it acts as an adjective. The basic structure is:
Qué + verb + subject + ? (e.g., ¿Qué quieres? – What do you want?)
Qué + noun + verb + ? (e.g., ¿Qué libro lees? – What book are you reading?)
Cuál (or cuáles) is also typically placed at the beginning of a question and is often followed by the verb ser. The structure is:
Cuál + es + subject + ? (e.g., ¿Cuál es tu nombre? – What is your name?)
Cuáles + son + subject + ? (e.g., ¿Cuáles son tus libros favoritos? – What are your favorite books?)
Lo que is used to introduce a dependent clause, acting as a single unit. It can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. The structure is:
Lo que + verb + subject + verb + . (e.g., Lo que necesito es tiempo. – What I need is time.)
Types and Categories of “What” in Spanish
Qué: General Usage
Qué is the most versatile translation of “what” in Spanish. It is used to ask for definitions, explanations, and general information. It is often used before nouns to ask for specific items or types of things. It can also be used in exclamations to express surprise or emphasis.
For example, ¿Qué es esto? means “What is this?” and ¡Qué bonito! means “How beautiful!”
Cuál: Choice and Selection
Cuál and its plural form cuáles are used to ask about a choice or selection from a limited set of options. It is often followed by the verb ser (to be). If the question is about one specific item among several options, cuál is used. If the question is about multiple items from a set, cuáles is used.
For example, ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? means “What is your favorite color?” and ¿Cuáles son tus deportes favoritos? means “What are your favorite sports?”
Lo que: “What” as a Clause
Lo que is used to translate “what” when it introduces a clause, meaning “that which” or “what” in the sense of a concept or idea. It connects two parts of a sentence, where the second part clarifies or expands on the first. It is used when “what” refers to an entire idea or situation, rather than a specific object or item.
For example, Lo que quiero es dormir. means “What I want is to sleep.”
Examples of “What” in Spanish
Here are some detailed examples of how to use qué, cuál, and lo que in various contexts.
Qué Examples
The following table provides examples of qué used in different contexts, including questions and exclamations.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué haces? | What are you doing? |
| ¿Qué quieres? | What do you want? |
| ¿Qué es esto? | What is this? |
| ¿Qué libro estás leyendo? | What book are you reading? |
| ¿Qué te gusta hacer? | What do you like to do? |
| ¿Qué pasó? | What happened? |
| ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? |
| ¿Qué día es hoy? | What day is today? |
| ¿Qué piensas? | What do you think? |
| ¿Qué necesitas? | What do you need? |
| ¿Qué estudias? | What do you study? |
| ¿Qué tipo de música te gusta? | What type of music do you like? |
| ¿Qué idiomas hablas? | What languages do you speak? |
| ¿Qué vas a hacer mañana? | What are you going to do tomorrow? |
| ¿Qué comida prefieres? | What food do you prefer? |
| ¿Qué te preocupa? | What worries you? |
| ¿Qué opinas de la película? | What do you think about the movie? |
| ¿Qué te parece la idea? | What do you think of the idea? |
| ¿Qué significa esta palabra? | What does this word mean? |
| ¿Qué quieres decir? | What do you mean? |
| ¡Qué sorpresa! | What a surprise! |
| ¡Qué interesante! | How interesting! |
| ¡Qué divertido! | How fun! |
| ¡Qué lástima! | What a pity! |
| ¡Qué caro! | How expensive! |
Cuál Examples
The following table provides examples of cuál and cuáles used to ask about choices and selections.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuál es tu nombre? | What is your name? |
| ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? | What is your favorite color? |
| ¿Cuál es tu libro preferido? | What is your favorite book? |
| ¿Cuál es la capital de España? | What is the capital of Spain? |
| ¿Cuál es el problema? | What is the problem? |
| ¿Cuál prefieres, el café o el té? | What do you prefer, coffee or tea? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus deportes favoritos? | What are your favorite sports? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? | What are your hobbies? |
| ¿Cuáles son los ingredientes? | What are the ingredients? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus planes para el fin de semana? | What are your plans for the weekend? |
| ¿Cuál de estos prefieres? | Which of these do you prefer? |
| ¿Cuál es la mejor opción? | What is the best option? |
| ¿Cuál de los dos es más grande? | Which of the two is bigger? |
| ¿Cuáles son las consecuencias? | What are the consequences? |
| ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? | What is your phone number? |
| ¿Cuál es tu dirección? | What is your address? |
| ¿Cuál es la respuesta correcta? | What is the correct answer? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus metas? | What are your goals? |
| ¿Cuál es tu opinión? | What is your opinion? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus expectativas? | What are your expectations? |
| ¿Cuál es tu plato favorito? | What is your favorite dish? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus películas favoritas? | What are your favorite movies? |
| ¿Cuál es tu canción favorita? | What is your favorite song? |
| ¿Cuáles son tus habilidades? | What are your skills? |
| ¿Cuál es tu trabajo ideal? | What is your ideal job? |
Lo que Examples
The following table provides examples of lo que used to introduce clauses and refer to concepts or ideas.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Lo que necesito es tiempo. | What I need is time. |
| Lo que quiero decir es… | What I want to say is… |
| Lo que me preocupa es el futuro. | What worries me is the future. |
| Lo que pasó fue un accidente. | What happened was an accident. |
| Lo que dijo no es verdad. | What he/she said is not true. |
| Lo que importa es la salud. | What matters is health. |
| Lo que me gusta de ti es tu honestidad. | What I like about you is your honesty. |
| Lo que estoy buscando es un trabajo. | What I am looking for is a job. |
| Lo que debes hacer es estudiar. | What you should do is study. |
| Lo que vamos a hacer es divertido. | What we are going to do is fun. |
| Lo que él piensa no me importa. | What he thinks doesn’t matter to me. |
| Lo que ella cocina siempre es delicioso. | What she cooks is always delicious. |
| Lo que ellos quieren es paz. | What they want is peace. |
| Lo que nosotros necesitamos es ayuda. | What we need is help. |
| Lo que tú tienes es suficiente. | What you have is enough. |
| Lo que ellos hicieron fue increíble. | What they did was incredible. |
| Lo que ella compró es muy caro. | What she bought is very expensive. |
| Lo que él escribió es muy interesante. | What he wrote is very interesting. |
| Lo que yo aprendí es valioso. | What I learned is valuable. |
| Lo que siempre recordaré es este momento. | What I will always remember is this moment. |
Usage Rules
Understanding the specific rules for using qué, cuál, and lo que is essential for avoiding common errors. These rules govern when and how to use each form correctly.
Qué Usage Rules
Qué is generally used to ask for definitions, explanations, or general information. Use qué when you need to know the nature or characteristics of something.
- Use qué before a noun to ask for a specific item or type of thing: ¿Qué libro lees? (What book are you reading?)
- Use qué before a verb to ask for an action or state: ¿Qué haces? (What are you doing?)
- Use qué in exclamations to express surprise or emphasis: ¡Qué bonito! (How beautiful!)
Cuál Usage Rules
Cuál (and cuáles) is used to ask about a choice or selection from a limited set of options. Use cuál when you need to identify a specific item or items from a group.
- Use cuál when there is a specific set of options to choose from: ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? (What is your favorite color?)
- Use cuáles when asking about multiple items from a set: ¿Cuáles son tus deportes favoritos? (What are your favorite sports?)
- Cuál is often followed by the verb ser: ¿Cuál es el problema? (What is the problem?)
Lo que Usage Rules
Lo que is used to translate “what” when it introduces a clause, meaning “that which” or “what” in the sense of a concept or idea. Use lo que when “what” refers to an entire idea or situation.
- Use lo que to connect two parts of a sentence, where the second part clarifies or expands on the first: Lo que necesito es tiempo. (What I need is time.)
- Lo que is used when “what” refers to an entire idea or situation, rather than a specific object or item.
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes is using qué when cuál is more appropriate, and vice versa. Another common error is misunderstanding the usage of lo que.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué es tu nombre? | ¿Cuál es tu nombre? | Cuál is used to ask for a specific piece of information like a name. |
| ¿Cuál haces? | ¿Qué haces? | Qué is used to ask about an action or activity. |
| Lo que quiero es un libro. | Lo que quiero es leer. | Lo que refers to an action or concept, not a specific noun. |
| ¿Qué es tu favorito color? | ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? | Cuál is used when asking to choose from a set of possibilities. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Each exercise focuses on a specific aspect of using “what” in Spanish.
Exercise 1: Choosing Between Qué and Cuál
Choose the correct word, qué or cuál, to complete each sentence.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. ¿____ es tu profesión? | 1. ¿Cuál es tu profesión? |
| 2. ¿____ estás haciendo? | 2. ¿Qué estás haciendo? |
| 3. ¿____ es tu número de teléfono? | 3. ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? |
| 4. ¿____ tipo de música te gusta? | 4. ¿Qué tipo de música te gusta? |
| 5. ¿____ prefieres, el rojo o el azul? | 5. ¿Cuál prefieres, el rojo o el azul? |
| 6. ¿____ es la capital de Argentina? | 6. ¿Cuál es la capital de Argentina? |
| 7. ¿____ vas a comer hoy? | 7. ¿Qué vas a comer hoy? |
| 8. ¿____ son tus planes para mañana? | 8. ¿Cuáles son tus planes para mañana? |
| 9. ¿____ es el problema? | 9. ¿Cuál es el problema? |
| 10. ¿____ idiomas hablas? | 10. ¿Qué idiomas hablas? |
Exercise 2: Using Lo que
Complete the following sentences using lo que.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. ____ necesito es un descanso. | 1. Lo que necesito es un descanso. |
| 2. ____ quiero decir es que estoy cansado. | 2. Lo que quiero decir es que estoy cansado. |
| 3. ____ me molesta es el ruido. | 3. Lo que me molesta es el ruido. |
| 4. ____ él piensa no es importante. | 4. Lo que él piensa no es importante. |
| 5. ____ ella dijo me hizo feliz. | 5. Lo que ella dijo me hizo feliz. |
| 6. ____ vamos a hacer es una sorpresa. | 6. Lo que vamos a hacer es una sorpresa. |
| 7. ____ pasó fue inesperado. | 7. Lo que pasó fue inesperado. |
| 8. ____ ella cocina siempre es delicioso. | 8. Lo que ella cocina siempre es delicioso. |
| 9. ____ ellos quieren es justicia. | 9. Lo que ellos quieren es justicia. |
| 10. ____ yo aprendí es muy valioso. | 10. Lo que yo aprendí es muy valioso. |
Exercise 3: Translation Practice
Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the appropriate form of “what.”
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1. What is your favorite movie? | 1. ¿Cuál es tu película favorita? |
| 2. What are you eating? | 2. ¿Qué estás comiendo? |
| 3. What I need is coffee. | 3. Lo que necesito es café. |
| 4. What do you think? | 4. ¿Qué piensas? |
| 5. What are your hobbies? | 5. ¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? |
| 6. What happened last night? | 6. ¿Qué pasó anoche? |
| 7. What I want is to travel. | 7. Lo que quiero es viajar. |
| 8. What is the capital of France? | 8. ¿Cuál es la capital de Francia? |
| 9. What are your plans for today? | 9. ¿Cuáles son tus planes para hoy? |
| 10. What do you study at the university? | 10. ¿Qué estudias en la universidad? |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding more nuanced uses of “what” in Spanish can further refine your language skills.
Indirect Questions
In indirect questions, the structure changes slightly, but the core meaning remains the same. Instead of a direct question, you embed the question within a statement.
For example, instead of asking ¿Qué quieres? (What do you want?), you might say No sé qué quieres. (I don’t know what you want.). The word order and punctuation change to reflect the indirect nature of the question.
Another example: Instead of asking ¿Cuál es tu nombre? (What is your name?), you might say Me gustaría saber cuál es tu nombre. (I would like to know what your name is.).
Complex Sentences
Using “what” in complex sentences can involve combining multiple clauses and ideas. This requires a solid understanding of sentence structure and the roles of qué, cuál, and lo que.
For example: No entiendo lo que dijiste sobre qué libro prefieres. (I don’t understand what you said about what book you prefer.). This sentence combines lo que and qué to convey a more complex idea.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about using “what” in Spanish.
- When should I use qué instead of cuál?
Use qué when asking for a definition, explanation, or general information. Use cuál when asking about a choice or selection from a limited set of options. For example, “¿Qué es esto?” (What is this?) vs. “¿Cuál es tu color favorito?” (What is your favorite color?). - How do I know when to use cuál vs. cuáles?
Use cuál for singular nouns and cuáles for plural nouns. For example, “¿Cuál es tu libro favorito?” (What is your favorite book?) vs. “¿Cuáles son tus libros favoritos?” (What are your favorite books?). - Can qué be used in exclamations?
Yes, qué can be used in exclamations to express surprise or emphasis. For example, “¡Qué bonito!” (How beautiful!). - What is the difference between lo que and qué?
Qué is used for direct questions and exclamations. Lo que is used to introduce a clause, meaning “that which” or “what” in the sense of a concept or idea. - How do I use lo que in a sentence?
Lo que is used to connect two parts of a sentence, where the second part clarifies or expands on the first. For example, “Lo que necesito es tiempo.” (What I need is time.). - Is there a situation where qué and cuál can be used interchangeably?
While rare, in some Latin American countries, qué might be used instead of cuál before the verb “ser” when asking for a definition or explanation. However, it’s generally safer to stick to the standard rules for clarity. - How does gender agreement affect the use of qué, cuál, and lo que?
Gender agreement doesn’t directly affect qué or lo que. However, with cuál, the noun it refers to must agree in gender and number with any related adjectives. For example, “¿Cuál es la casa más grande?” (What is the biggest house?) – “casa” is feminine. - Are there regional variations in how “what” is expressed in Spanish?
Yes, there can be regional variations. As mentioned earlier, some Latin American countries might use qué more broadly than in Spain. It’s always a good idea to listen to native speakers from different regions to get a feel for these variations. - How can I improve my ability to use these words correctly?
Practice, practice, practice! The more you use these words in context, the better you will become at distinguishing between them. Watch Spanish-language TV shows and movies, read Spanish books, and try to incorporate these words into your own conversations. - What are some other interrogative words in Spanish that are similar to “what”?
Some other common interrogative words include quién (who), dónde (where), cuándo (when), cómo (how), and cuánto (how much/many). Understanding these words will further enhance your ability to ask questions in Spanish.
Conclusion
Mastering the nuances of how to say “what” in Spanish is a crucial step in achieving fluency. By understanding the distinctions between qué, cuál, and lo que, you can communicate more effectively and avoid common errors. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to context when choosing the appropriate form. With consistent effort, you’ll confidently navigate the complexities of Spanish interrogatives and exclamations.
Continue to explore these concepts through real-life conversations, reading, and listening exercises. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.
With dedication and practice, you’ll master the art of expressing “what” in Spanish and enhance your overall language proficiency.
