Qué vs. Cuál in Spanish: Rules and Examples
English asks “what is your name?” and “what is this?” with the same word. Spanish does not. The difference is simple: qué asks what something is, and cuál asks which one among several. Learn that idea and the English “what” stops being a trap.
Quick answer
- Qué asks for a definition or an open answer: ¿Qué es esto? ¿Qué quieres?
- Cuál asks you to pick from a group, even an unspoken one: ¿Cuál prefieres? ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
- Before a noun, use qué: ¿Qué libro lees? (Which book are you reading?)
The core idea: definition or choice
Use qué when you do not know what something is and expect an explanation or a description. Use cuál when there is a set of possible answers, even if nobody says them out loud. Names, phone numbers, addresses, and dates all come from a set, so they use cuál.
| Question | What it asks for | Possible answer |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué es un apellido? | a definition | It is the family name. |
| ¿Cuál es tu apellido? | which one is yours | Ramírez. |
| ¿Qué es la capital? | a definition | It is the main city of a country. |
| ¿Cuál es la capital de Perú? | which one | Lima. |
Examples
- ¿Qué es un apellido?What is a last name?A definition.
- ¿Cuál es tu apellido?What is your last name?A choice from all possible last names.
- ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?What is your phone number?Numbers come from a set.
- ¿Cuál es la capital de Perú?What is the capital of Peru?One answer from a list.
Qué with verbs
With most verbs other than ser, qué is the open question: ¿Qué quieres? (What do you want?), ¿Qué haces? (What are you doing?). It is also the word for the time: ¿Qué hora es?.
Examples
- ¿Qué quieres cenar?What do you want for dinner?Open choice.
- ¿Qué haces los domingos?What do you do on Sundays?Qué with a verb.
- ¿Qué hora es?What time is it?Fixed expression.
Qué before a noun
In everyday Spanish, when “which” is followed by a noun, use qué. The question ¿Qué libro lees? is the normal way to say “Which book are you reading?” You will occasionally hear cuál before a noun in some regions, but qué is the standard choice and the safest one.
Examples
- ¿Qué color prefieres?Which color do you prefer?Qué + noun.
- ¿Qué canción te gusta más?Which song do you like most?Qué + noun.
Cuál for choosing: cuál and cuáles
Use cuál alone, with ser, or with de plus a group, when you choose from a set. Make it plural, cuáles, when the answer is more than one: ¿Cuáles son tus colores favoritos?.
Examples
- ¿Cuál prefieres, el rojo o el azul?Which do you prefer, the red one or the blue one?A choice between two.
- ¿Cuál de estas camisas te gusta?Which of these shirts do you like?Cuál de + group.
- ¿Cuáles son tus películas favoritas?What are your favorite movies?Plural: cuáles.
When English says “what” but Spanish says cuál
The most common source of mistakes is the pattern “What is your... ?” in English. In Spanish, use cuál with ser when you ask for a specific piece of information:
- ¿Cuál es tu dirección? What is your address?
- ¿Cuál es la diferencia? What is the difference?
- ¿Cuál es el problema? What is the problem?
- ¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? What is today’s date?
Use qué es only when you want a definition: ¿Qué es una dirección? asks what an address is. For the full set of question words, see Spanish question words.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: ¿Qué es tu nombre?
Correct: ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
A name is a specific piece of information, so use cuál.
Incorrect: ¿Cuál libro prefieres?
Correct: ¿Qué libro prefieres?
Before a noun, use qué.
Incorrect: ¿Qué son tus colores favoritos?
Correct: ¿Cuáles son tus colores favoritos?
A plural choice from a set uses cuáles.
Incorrect: ¿Cuál hora es?
Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
For the time, the fixed expression uses qué.
A two-question test
- Is there a set of possible answers (names, numbers, favorites, dates)? Use cuál.
- Are you asking for a definition, or is a noun right after the word? Use qué.
- Cuál becomes cuáles for more than one answer.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ‘cuál’ before a noun?
In some regions you will hear it, but qué before a noun is the standard and safest choice: ¿Qué libro prefieres?.
Why do I say ‘¿Cuál es tu dirección?’ and not ‘¿Qué es tu dirección?’
An address is a specific item from many possible addresses. Qué would ask for a definition of the word.
How do I ask for a definition?
Use ¿Qué es...? or ¿Qué significa...?: ¿Qué significa esta palabra? (What does this word mean?).
Do qué and cuál have the same accent rule as other question words?
Yes. Both always carry a written accent, even in indirect questions: No sé cuál prefieres.
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