Conjunction · A1 · Spanish glossary

Que: that

que

Pronunciation: keh (stress the capital letters)

Que means “that” in English.

Quick answer

Meaning: that; than; which
How to say it: keh
Level: Beginner (A1)

What “que” means and how to use it

Que is the most common connecting word in Spanish. It means “that,” “which,” “who,” or “than,” and it links two parts of a sentence.

A closer look at “que”

Que connects two ideas

Que is the glue of Spanish sentences. It connects a main clause to a secondary clause: dice que viene (he says that he is coming), el libro que compré (the book that I bought), más grande que yo (bigger than me).

Que and qué

Without an accent, que connects. With an accent, qué asks or exclaims: ¿Qué quieres? ¡Qué bonito! In indirect questions the accent stays: no sé qué quieres.

Examples with audio

Pienso que el examen es difícil.I think that the exam is difficult.
El libro que leo es interesante.The book that I am reading is interesting.
Mi hermano es más alto que yo.My brother is taller than I am.

Usage tip

In English you can drop “that” (I think you are right), but Spanish needs “que”: “creo que tienes razón.” Que has no accent here; with an accent (qué) it is a question word.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “that” in Spanish?

“that” in Spanish is “que.” It is pronounced keh, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.

How do you pronounce “que”?

Say keh. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.

Practice “que” for free

Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.

Practice Spanish for free with Leo Read the lesson: Qué vs. Cuál in Spanish: Rules and Examples