Mastering “What” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to express “what” in Spanish is crucial for forming questions, making statements, and generally navigating conversations. Spanish offers several ways to translate “what,” each with its own nuances and contexts. This guide breaks down the different forms, their uses, and common pitfalls, empowering you to use them confidently and accurately. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an advanced learner looking to refine your skills, this comprehensive resource will help you master this essential aspect of Spanish grammar.

This article will benefit students, travelers, language enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively in Spanish. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of qué, cuál, cuáles, lo que, and other related concepts, allowing you to express yourself with greater precision and fluency.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition: Expressing “What” in Spanish
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Types and Categories of “What” in Spanish
   • Qué: The Basic “What”
   • Cuál and Cuáles: Choosing from Options
   • Lo que: “What” as a Relative Pronoun
   • ¿Qué tal?: “What’s up?” and Other Idiomatic Uses
5. Examples
   • Qué Examples
   • Cuál and Cuáles Examples
   • Lo que Examples
   • ¿Qué tal? Examples
6. Usage Rules
   • Rules for Using Qué
   • Rules for Using Cuál and Cuáles
   • Rules for Using Lo que
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
   • Exercise 1: Choosing Between Qué and Cuál
   • Exercise 2: Using Lo que
   • Exercise 3: Translation Practice
9. Advanced Topics
   • Indirect Questions
   • Exclamations with Qué
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definition: Expressing “What” in Spanish

The word “what” in English can be translated into Spanish in several ways, most commonly using qué, cuál (or its plural form cuáles), and lo que. Each of these serves a distinct purpose and is used in specific contexts. Understanding their proper usage is essential for clear and accurate communication in Spanish.

Qué is generally used to ask for definitions, explanations, or general information. It often precedes a noun or verb. Cuál and cuáles are used to ask for a choice from a limited set of options or to identify something specific from a group. Lo que functions as a relative pronoun, meaning “what” in the sense of “that which” or “the thing that.” It connects clauses and refers to an idea or action rather than a specific noun.

The choice between these options depends heavily on the context of the sentence and the type of information you are seeking. Mastering their nuances will significantly improve your ability to form questions, express opinions, and understand spoken and written Spanish.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of sentences using “what” in Spanish varies depending on the specific word being used. Let’s break down the common structures:

* **Qué + Noun:** This structure is used to ask for a definition or description of a noun. For example, ¿Qué libro estás leyendo? (What book are you reading?). Here, qué modifies the noun libro.
* **Qué + Verb:** This structure is used to ask about an action or event. For example, ¿Qué pasó? (What happened?). Here, qué is followed directly by the verb pasó.
* **Cuál/Cuáles + ser + Noun:** This structure is used to ask for a specific choice or identification. For example, ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? (What is your favorite color?). Cuáles would be used if the noun is plural: ¿Cuáles son tus libros favoritos? (What are your favorite books?).
* **Lo que + Verb:** This structure introduces a relative clause, referring to “what” as “that which.” For example, Lo que necesito es un café (What I need is a coffee). Here, lo que necesito functions as the subject of the sentence.

Understanding these basic structures will help you construct grammatically correct sentences using the different forms of “what” in Spanish. Pay attention to the word order and the agreement between nouns and verbs.

Types and Categories of “What” in Spanish

Qué: The Basic “What”

Qué is the most common translation of “what” in Spanish. It is used to ask for definitions, explanations, or general information. It is often used before nouns or verbs. It never changes form to agree with gender or number.

Here are some key uses of qué:

* Asking for a definition: ¿Qué es un diccionario? (What is a dictionary?)
* Asking about an event: ¿Qué ocurrió? (What happened?)
* Asking for a description: ¿Qué tipo de música te gusta? (What kind of music do you like?)

Cuál and Cuáles: Choosing from Options

Cuál (singular) and cuáles (plural) are used to ask for a choice from a limited set of options or to identify something specific from a group. They are often used with the verb ser.

Here are some key uses of cuál and cuáles:

* Choosing one option from many: ¿Cuál prefieres, el rojo o el azul? (Which do you prefer, the red one or the blue one?)
* Identifying something specific: ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? (What is your phone number?)
* Asking for a selection from multiple items: ¿Cuáles son tus deportes favoritos? (What are your favorite sports?)

The choice between cuál and cuáles depends on whether you are asking about a singular or plural noun. If the answer is singular, use cuál; if the answer is plural, use cuáles.

Lo que: “What” as a Relative Pronoun

Lo que functions as a relative pronoun, meaning “what” in the sense of “that which” or “the thing that.” It connects clauses and refers to an idea or action rather than a specific noun. Lo que is invariable; it does not change form.

Here are some key uses of lo que:

* Referring to a general idea: Lo que necesito es tiempo (What I need is time).
* Connecting clauses: No entiendo lo que dices (I don’t understand what you’re saying).
* Expressing a preference or desire: Lo que quiero es viajar (What I want is to travel).

Lo que is often used to introduce a clause that acts as the subject or object of another verb. It is a versatile construction that allows you to express complex ideas.

¿Qué tal?: “What’s up?” and Other Idiomatic Uses

¿Qué tal? is a common idiomatic expression that translates to “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” It is a versatile greeting used in informal settings.

Other idiomatic uses of qué include:

* ¡Qué bien! (How good! / That’s great!)
* ¡Qué lástima! (What a shame!)
* ¿A que no…? (I bet you can’t…?)

These expressions add color and personality to your Spanish and are essential for sounding natural in conversations.

Examples

The following sections provide extensive examples of how to use qué, cuál, cuáles, and lo que in various contexts. These examples will help you solidify your understanding of their usage and nuances.

Qué Examples

The table below provides examples of qué used in different contexts, including asking for definitions, explanations, and descriptions. Each example is accompanied by its English translation to help you understand the meaning and usage.

Spanish	English
¿Qué es la física?	What is physics?
¿Qué pasó ayer?	What happened yesterday?
¿Qué quieres comer?	What do you want to eat?
¿Qué hora es?	What time is it?
¿Qué estás haciendo?	What are you doing?
¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre?	What do you like to do in your free time?
¿Qué tipo de música escuchas?	What kind of music do you listen to?
¿Qué piensas de la película?	What do you think of the movie?
¿Qué significa esta palabra?	What does this word mean?
¿Qué necesitas?	What do you need?
¿Qué te preocupa?	What worries you?
¿Qué regalo te gustaría recibir?	What gift would you like to receive?
¿Qué recomiendas ver en esta ciudad?	What do you recommend seeing in this city?
¿Qué te parece mi idea?	What do you think of my idea?
¿Qué estudias en la universidad?	What do you study at university?
¿Qué idiomas hablas?	What languages do you speak?
¿Qué deportes practicas?	What sports do you play?
¿Qué opines sobre la política actual?	What is your opinion on current politics?
¿Qué marca de coche prefieres?	What brand of car do you prefer?
¿Qué tipo de persona eres?	What kind of person are you?
¿Qué te hizo cambiar de opinión?	What made you change your mind?
¿Qué te inspira?	What inspires you?
¿Qué te gustaría aprender?	What would you like to learn?
¿Qué opinas de este libro?	What do you think of this book?
¿Qué te causa alegría?	What brings you joy?
¿Qué es lo que más valoras en la vida?	What do you value most in life?
¿Qué te gustaria hacer diferente?	What would you like to do differently?
¿Qué te hace reír?	What makes you laugh?

Cuál and Cuáles Examples

The table below showcases examples of cuál and cuáles used to ask for a choice from a limited set of options or to identify something specific. Note the difference between singular (cuál) and plural (cuáles) usage. Understanding this distinction is key to using these words correctly.

Spanish	English
¿Cuál es tu nombre?	What is your name?
¿Cuál es tu color favorito?	What is your favorite color?
¿Cuál prefieres, café o té?	Which do you prefer, coffee or tea?
¿Cuál es la capital de España?	What is the capital of Spain?
¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?	What are your hobbies?
¿Cuáles son tus comidas favoritas?	What are your favorite foods?
¿Cuáles son los requisitos para el trabajo?	What are the requirements for the job?
¿Cuál de estos libros es tuyo?	Which of these books is yours?
¿Cuáles son las ventajas de este producto?	What are the advantages of this product?
¿Cuál es el mejor camino para llegar allí?	What is the best way to get there?
¿Cuáles son tus metas para este año?	What are your goals for this year?
¿Cuál es tu dirección de correo electrónico?	What is your email address?
¿Cuáles son las causas de este problema?	What are the causes of this problem?
¿Cuál es tu película favorita?	What is your favorite movie?
¿Cuáles son tus actores favoritos?	What are your favorite actors?
¿Cuál es su número de teléfono?	What is your phone number?
¿Cuáles son los ingredientes de esta receta?	What are the ingredients of this recipe?
¿Cuál es tu canción favorita?	What is your favorite song?
¿Cuáles son tus planes para el fin de semana?	What are your plans for the weekend?
¿Cuál es tu opinión sobre este tema?	What is your opinion on this topic?
¿Cuáles son las opciones disponibles?	What options are available?
¿Cuál es la razón principal?	What is the main reason?
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de este medicamento?	What are the side effects of this medication?
¿Cuál es el siguiente paso?	What is the next step?
¿Cuáles son los beneficios de hacer ejercicio?	What are the benefits of exercising?
¿Cuál es tu libro favorito?	What is your favorite book?

Lo que Examples

The table below provides examples of lo que used as a relative pronoun, meaning “what” in the sense of “that which.” These examples demonstrate how lo que connects clauses and refers to an idea or action rather than a specific noun. Understanding this construction is crucial for expressing complex ideas in Spanish.

Spanish	English
Lo que necesito es un café.	What I need is a coffee.
No entiendo lo que dices.	I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Lo que quiero es viajar.	What I want is to travel.
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 te dije es la verdad.	What I told you is the truth.
Lo que importa es la salud.	What matters is health.
Lo que debes hacer es estudiar.	What you should do is study.
Lo que me gusta de ti es tu honestidad.	What I like about you is your honesty.
Lo que quiero saber es la respuesta.	What I want to know is the answer.
Lo que ella piensa no me importa.	What she thinks doesn’t matter to me.
Lo que él hace es su problema.	What he does is his problem.
Lo que estamos buscando es una solución.	What we are looking for is a solution.
Lo que me sorprende es su actitud.	What surprises me is his/her attitude.
Lo que ella dijo me hizo pensar.	What she said made me think.
Lo que me da miedo es la oscuridad.	What scares me is the dark.
Lo que me hace feliz es estar contigo.	What makes me happy is being with you.
Lo que me molesta es el ruido.	What bothers me is the noise.
Lo que me da esperanza es la gente joven.	What gives me hope is young people.
Lo que me frustra es la burocracia.	What frustrates me is bureaucracy.
Lo que más valoro es la amistad.	What I value most is friendship.
Lo que siempre recordaré es este viaje.	What I will always remember is this trip.
Lo que me ayudó fue tu consejo.	What helped me was your advice.
Lo que me motiva es el éxito.	What motivates me is success.
Lo que me relaja es leer un libro.	What relaxes me is reading a book.

¿Qué tal? Examples

The table below provides examples of ¿Qué tal? in various conversational contexts. It’s important to note that ¿Qué tal? functions as a greeting similar to “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”

Spanish	English
¿Qué tal?	What’s up? / How’s it going?
¿Qué tal el trabajo?	How’s work?
¿Qué tal la película?	How was the movie?
¿Qué tal la comida?	How’s the food?
¿Qué tal tu día?	How was your day?
¿Qué tal todo?	How’s everything?
¿Qué tal la fiesta?	How was the party?
¿Qué tal el viaje?	How was the trip?
¿Qué tal tu familia?	How’s your family?
¿Qué tal el clima?	How’s the weather?
¿Qué tal tu salud?	How’s your health?
¿Qué tal con los estudios?	How are your studies going?

Usage Rules

Understanding the specific rules governing the use of qué, cuál, cuáles, and lo que is essential for accurate and fluent communication in Spanish. The following sections outline these rules in detail.

Rules for Using Qué

* Use qué for definitions and explanations: When asking for the meaning or definition of something, use qué. Example: ¿Qué es un volcán? (What is a volcano?)
* Use qué before nouns to ask for general information: When asking for general information about a noun, use qué. Example: ¿Qué libro estás leyendo? (What book are you reading?)
* Use qué before verbs to ask about actions or events: When asking about an action or event, use qué. Example: ¿Qué pasó? (What happened?)
* Qué does not change form: Qué is invariable and does not change to agree with gender or number.

Rules for Using Cuál and Cuáles

* Use cuál and cuáles for choices from a limited set: When asking someone to choose from a limited number of options, use cuál (singular) or cuáles (plural). Example: ¿Cuál prefieres, la camisa roja o la azul? (Which do you prefer, the red shirt or the blue shirt?) ¿Cuáles son tus frutas favoritas? (What are your favorite fruits?)
* Use cuál and cuáles to identify something specific: When asking for the identification of something specific, use cuál or cuáles. Example: ¿Cuál es tu dirección? (What is your address?)
* Agreement with number: Cuál is used with singular nouns, and cuáles is used with plural nouns.
* Followed by the verb ser: Cuál and cuáles are often followed by the verb ser (to be).

Rules for Using Lo que

* Use lo que as a relative pronoun: Use lo que to mean “what” in the sense of “that which.” It refers to an idea or action rather than a specific noun.
* Lo que is invariable: Lo que does not change form.
* Lo que connects clauses: Lo que is used to connect clauses, with the clause introduced by lo que functioning as the subject or object of another verb. Example: Lo que necesito es un descanso (What I need is a rest).

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is interchanging qué and cuál. Remember that qué is used for definitions and general information, while cuál is used for choices or identification from a limited set.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
¿Cuál es tu nombre?	¿Cuál es tu nombre?	This is correct. Cuál is used to identify your name from the set of all possible names.
¿Qué es tu color favorito?	¿Cuál es tu color favorito?	Incorrect. Cuál should be used because you are asking for a choice from a set of colors.
¿Cuál pasó?	¿Qué pasó?	Incorrect. Qué should be used to ask about an event.
No entiendo qué dices.	No entiendo lo que dices.	Incorrect. Lo que is needed here because “what” refers to the entire statement you are making.
¿Qué prefieres, café o té?	¿Cuál prefieres, café o té?	Incorrect. When asking for a choice between options, use cuál.

Another common mistake is forgetting to use the correct form of the verb ser with cuál and cuáles. Remember to use the correct conjugation based on the subject.

Practice Exercises

The following exercises will help you practice using qué, cuál, cuáles, and lo que correctly. Each exercise focuses on a specific aspect of their usage.

Exercise 1: Choosing Between Qué and Cuál

Choose the correct word (qué or cuál) to fill in the blank in each sentence.

1. ¿____ es tu libro favorito?
2. ¿____ pasó en la fiesta?
3. ¿____ es la capital de Francia?
4. ¿____ quieres hacer hoy?
5. ¿____ prefieres, la playa o la montaña?
6. ¿____ es tu número de teléfono?
7. ¿____ estudias en la universidad?
8. ¿____ es un sinónimo de “feliz”?
9. ¿____ es tu deporte favorito?
10. ¿____ te gusta de esta ciudad?

Answers:

1. Cuál
2. Qué
3. Cuál
4. Qué
5. Cuál
6. Cuál
7. Qué
8. Cuál
9. Cuál
10. Qué

Exercise 2: Using Lo que

Complete the following sentences using lo que.

1. ____ necesito es un poco de paz.
2. No entiendo ____ me estás diciendo.
3. ____ quiero es que seas feliz.
4. ____ me preocupa es el examen.
5. Dime ____ piensas.
6. ____ más me gusta es bailar.
7. ____ pasó ayer fue muy raro.
8. ____ necesito ahora es un abrazo.
9. ____ me da miedo es la oscuridad.
10. Explícame ____ sucedió.

Answers:

1. Lo que
2. lo que
3. Lo que
4. Lo que
5. lo que
6. Lo que
7. Lo que
8. Lo que
9. Lo que
10. lo que

Exercise 3: Translation Practice

Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the appropriate form of “what.”

1. What is your favorite movie?
2. What happened last night?
3. What I need is a vacation.
4. What do you want to eat?
5. Which is your favorite, summer or winter?
6. What is your email address?
7. What I told you is the truth.
8. What are your hobbies?
9. What worries you?
10. What is the meaning of this word?

Answers:

1. ¿Cuál es tu película favorita?
2. ¿Qué pasó anoche?
3. Lo que necesito son unas vacaciones.
4. ¿Qué quieres comer?
5. ¿Cuál es tu estación favorita, verano o invierno?
6. ¿Cuál es tu dirección de correo electrónico?
7. Lo que te dije es la verdad.
8. ¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?
9. ¿Qué te preocupa?
10. ¿Cuál es el significado de esta palabra? / ¿Qué significa esta palabra?

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of using “what” in Spanish to explore. These include indirect questions and exclamations.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are used to report a question without asking it directly. In Spanish, the structure of indirect questions differs from direct questions. When using qué or cuál in an indirect question, the word order changes, and the question mark is omitted.

Examples:

* Direct question: ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)
* Indirect question: Me pregunto qué hora es (I wonder what time it is).
* Direct question: ¿Cuál es tu nombre? (What is your name?)
* Indirect question: Quiero saber cuál es tu nombre (I want to know what your name is).

Exclamations with Qué

Qué is also used to form exclamations in Spanish. In this case, qué means “how” or “what a.” The structure is ¡Qué + adjective/noun + verb! or ¡Qué + adjective/noun!.

Examples:

* ¡Qué bonito! (How beautiful!)
* ¡Qué calor hace! (How hot it is!)
* ¡Qué día tan lindo! (What a beautiful day!)
* ¡Qué sorpresa! (What a surprise!)

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about using “what” in Spanish:

1. When should I use qué instead of cuál?

   Use qué when asking for a definition, explanation, or general information. Use cuál when asking for a choice from a limited set of options or to identify something specific. If you’re asking for a definition of something, you use “qué”. If you’re choosing from a limited number of options, you use “cuál”.

2. Is lo que the same as que?

   No, lo que and que are not the same. Que is a general interrogative and relative pronoun, while lo que is a relative pronoun meaning “what” in the sense of “that which.” They have distinct functions and are used in different contexts.

3. Can I use cuál before a noun?

   Yes, you can use cuál before a noun, but it is usually followed by the verb ser. For example, ¿Cuál es tu libro favorito?

4. How do I know when to use cuál and when to use cuáles?

   Use cuál when referring to a singular noun and cuáles when referring to a plural noun. The choice depends on whether you are asking about one thing or multiple things.

5. What is the difference between ¿Qué tal? and ¿Cómo estás?

   ¿Qué tal? is an informal greeting similar to “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” ¿Cómo estás? is a more direct question meaning “How are you?” ¿Qué tal? is often used as a quick, casual greeting, while ¿Cómo estás? implies a greater interest in the other person’s well-being.

6. Can qué be used in exclamations?

   Yes, qué can be used in exclamations to express surprise or emphasis. For example, ¡Qué bonito! (How beautiful!).

7. Is there a difference between “¿Qué es…?” and “¿Cuál es
   …?”

   Yes, there´s a difference. “¿Qué es…?” is used to ask for the definition of something. For example: ¿Qué es un coche? (What is a car?). “¿Cuál es…?” is used to ask for the identification or choice of something from a group. For example: ¿Cuál es tu coche? (Which is your car?).

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “what” in Spanish requires understanding the nuances of qué, cuál, cuáles, and lo que. Each has its specific context and usage rules. By studying the definitions, examples, and exercises in this guide, you can improve your ability to express yourself accurately and fluently in Spanish. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to how native speakers use these words in real-life conversations. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently and correctly use “what” in all its forms.