Spanish Question Words: Qué, Cuál, Cómo, Cuándo, Dónde
If you can ask a question, you can keep a conversation going. Spanish uses a small set of question words, and each one carries a written accent that separates it from the same word used in a statement. Here is the full set, with a sentence for each one and the three rules that control every question.
Quick answer
- Every question word has a written accent: qué, quién, cuál, cómo, cuándo, dónde, cuánto.
- Put the question word first, then the verb: ¿Dónde vive tu hermana? There is no “do” or “does.”
- Use two words and an accent to ask why: ¿Por qué? The answer is porque (because).
The ten question words
These ten cover almost every question you will ask as a beginner.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| qué | what | ¿Qué estudias? What are you studying? |
| quién, quiénes | who | ¿Quién es ella? Who is she? |
| cuál, cuáles | which, which one | ¿Cuál prefieres? Which do you prefer? |
| cómo | how | ¿Cómo se llama tu perro? What is your dog’s name? |
| cuándo | when | ¿Cuándo llega el tren? When does the train arrive? |
| dónde | where | ¿Dónde trabajas? Where do you work? |
| adónde | where to | ¿Adónde vas? Where are you going? |
| cuánto, cuánta, cuántos, cuántas | how much, how many | ¿Cuántas personas vienen? How many people are coming? |
| por qué | why | ¿Por qué estudias español? Why do you study Spanish? |
| para qué | what for | ¿Para qué sirve esto? What is this for? |
Examples
- ¿Qué estudias en la universidad?What do you study at the university?Qué asks what.
- ¿Quién es ella?Who is she?Quién asks who. The plural is quiénes.
- ¿Cómo se llama tu perro?What is your dog’s name?Cómo asks how, or what something is called.
- ¿Cuándo llega el tren?When does the train arrive?Cuándo asks when.
- ¿Dónde trabajas?Where do you work?Dónde asks where.
- ¿Cuántas personas vienen?How many people are coming?Cuántas agrees with personas.
Three rules that build every question
1. Always write the accent
The question words always carry an accent, and so do they when the question is indirect, inside a longer sentence: No sé dónde vive. (I do not know where she lives). Without the accent, como means “like” or “as,” donde means “the place where,” and que means “that.”
2. The verb comes before the subject
Spanish does not add “do” or “does.” Put the question word first, then the verb, and then the subject, if you need it. If a preposition goes with the question word, it stays at the front: ¿De dónde es tu familia? (Where is your family from?), ¿Con quién vives? (Who do you live with?), ¿A qué hora llegas? (What time do you arrive?).
Examples
- ¿De dónde es tu familia?Where is your family from?De goes before dónde.
- ¿Con quién vives?Who do you live with?Con goes before quién.
- ¿A qué hora llegas?What time do you arrive?A goes before qué.
3. Add inverted marks when you write
In writing, Spanish opens a question with ¿ and closes it with ?. When you speak, your voice rises at the end of a yes-or-no question: ¿Hablas español? and Hablas español. differ only in melody.
Por qué, porque, and other tricky spellings
Spanish has several look-alikes. In a question, ask why with two words and an accent: ¿Por qué estudias?. Answer with one word and no accent: Porque me gusta. (Because I like it.)
Qué and cuál both ask “what/which,” and choosing between them is a topic on its own: see qué vs. cuál.
Examples
- ¿Por qué estudias español?Why do you study Spanish?Two words and an accent.
- Porque quiero viajar a México.Because I want to travel to Mexico.One word, no accent.
- ¿Para qué sirve este botón?What is this button for?Para qué asks for the purpose.
Putting the question words to work
Here is a short exchange between a traveler and a hotel receptionist. Notice how each question word opens its sentence and how the answers can be very short.
Examples
- Perdón, ¿dónde está el desayuno?Excuse me, where is breakfast?Dónde asks for a place.
- En el segundo piso, a partir de las siete.On the second floor, starting at seven.A short answer is enough.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta una noche más?How much does one more night cost?Cuánto is invariable before a verb.
- ¿Quién llamó por teléfono?Who called on the phone?Quién asks about a person.
- ¿Cuándo sale el autobús al aeropuerto?When does the bus to the airport leave?Cuándo asks about time.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: ¿Donde vives?
Correct: ¿Dónde vives?
Question words always need an accent.
Incorrect: ¿Dónde es tu familia?
Correct: ¿De dónde es tu familia?
Use de dónde to ask about origin. Dónde alone asks where something is located.
Incorrect: ¿Porque estudias español?
Correct: ¿Por qué estudias español?
To ask why, write por qué as two words with an accent.
Incorrect: ¿Cómo tú te llamas?
Correct: ¿Cómo te llamas?
You do not need the subject pronoun. Te already tells you who is speaking.
Quick reminders
- Accent on every question word, even inside a longer sentence.
- Question word, verb, subject. No “do” or “does.”
- Por qué asks. Porque answers.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need the upside-down question mark?
In writing, yes. It tells the reader where the question begins, which helps in long sentences. In a text message, many people drop it, but it is still correct to use.
What is the difference between ‘cómo’ and ‘como’?
Cómo with an accent is a question word (how). Como without an accent means “like,” “as,” or “I eat.”
Do all questions need a question word?
No. A yes-or-no question has no question word at all: ¿Hablas español? It only changes in the written marks and the rising melody.
What is the difference between ‘qué’ and ‘cuál’?
Qué asks for a definition or an open answer, and cuál asks you to choose among options. The full explanation is in the lesson on qué vs. cuál.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Questions are the quickest way to start a conversation. Practice the question words in a short, free session.
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