Spanish question words
Why question words unlock beginner conversations
A beginner can know many nouns and verbs but still freeze when the other person asks a simple question. Question words fix that because they show what kind of answer is coming: place, time, person, reason, amount, or choice.
Do not memorize qué, dónde, cuándo, and cómo only as isolated words. Learn them inside short questions such as ¿Qué significa?, ¿Dónde está...?, ¿Cuánto cuesta?, and ¿A qué hora es?.
The simple rule: learn the question word plus one ready-made question
Start with a small core: qué, quién, dónde, cuándo, cómo, cuál, cuánto, and por qué. These cover most beginner information gaps.
Then attach each one to a useful A1 question. A question that asks for meaning, price, location, time, repetition, or help is worth practising before rare grammar details.
30 Spanish question words and beginner questions
The table includes the Spanish question word or question, English translation, use case, and a short note so you know when to use it.
| Spanish | Translation | Use | Mini-note |
|---|---|---|---|
| qué | what, which | Meaning or choice | Core question word to learn early. |
| quién | who | Person | Core question word to learn early. |
| dónde | where | Place | Core question word to learn early. |
| cuándo | when | Time | Core question word to learn early. |
| cómo | how | Method or state | Core question word to learn early. |
| cuál | which, what | Choice | Core question word to learn early. |
| cuánto / cuánta | how much | Amount | Core question word to learn early. |
| cuántos / cuántas | how many | Count | Core question word to learn early. |
| por qué | why | Reason | Core question word to learn early. |
| ¿Qué significa? | What does it mean? | Meaning check | Useful when learning from signs, menus, and apps. |
| ¿Cómo se dice... en español? | How do you say... in Spanish? | Ask for a word | Useful when learning from signs, menus, and apps. |
| ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? | Can you repeat that, please? | Fast speech | Slows speech down without switching topics. |
| ¿Puede hablar más despacio? | Can you speak more slowly? | Slow speech | Slows speech down without switching topics. |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? | Language help | Helps set expectations in a real conversation. |
| ¿Quién es? | Who is it? / Who is he or she? | Identify a person | Use for names, identity, and companions. |
| ¿Con quién vas? | Who are you going with? | Companion | Use for names, identity, and companions. |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What is your name? | Name | Use for names, identity, and companions. |
| ¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? | Origin | Use for names, identity, and companions. |
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? | Find a place | Use for locations, directions, and origins. |
| ¿A dónde vas? | Where are you going? | Destination | Use for locations, directions, and origins. |
| ¿De dónde viene? | Where does it come from? | Origin | Use for locations, directions, and origins. |
| ¿Está cerca? | Is it nearby? | Distance | Use for locations, directions, and origins. |
| ¿Cuándo es? | When is it? | Date or event | Use for schedules, dates, and waiting. |
| ¿A qué hora es? | What time is it? | Clock time | Use for schedules, dates, and waiting. |
| ¿Cuánto tiempo tarda? | How long does it take? | Duration | Use for schedules, dates, and waiting. |
| ¿Qué día es hoy? | What day is it today? | Day check | Use for schedules, dates, and waiting. |
| ¿Cuál prefieres? | Which do you prefer? | Choose option | Useful when comparing options. |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | Price | Practical in shops, markets, and travel. |
| ¿Qué necesitas? | What do you need? | Need or help | Good for help, study, and service situations. |
| ¿Por qué estudias español? | Why are you studying Spanish? | Reason | Turns a fact into a short explanation. |
The same questions by purpose
Question words stick faster when you group them by what they ask for: meaning, people, places, time, choices, prices, and reasons.
Core question words
Start here before adding longer questions. These words tell you what answer to expect.
qué; quién; dónde; cuándo; cómo; cuál; cuánto / cuánta; cuántos / cuántas; por qué
Meaning and language help
Use these when you do not understand a word, sound, or fast reply.
¿Qué significa?; ¿Cómo se dice... en español?; ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?; ¿Puede hablar más despacio?; ¿Habla inglés?
People and identity
These questions ask who someone is, what their name is, or where they are from.
¿Quién es?; ¿Con quién vas?; ¿Cómo te llamas?; ¿De dónde eres?
Places and directions
These questions keep a beginner oriented in a city, hotel, shop, or classroom.
¿Dónde está...?; ¿A dónde vas?; ¿De dónde viene?; ¿Está cerca?
Time and schedules
Use these for plans, appointments, days, and waiting time.
¿Cuándo es?; ¿A qué hora es?; ¿Cuánto tiempo tarda?; ¿Qué día es hoy?
Choices, prices, needs, and reasons
These questions help you decide, buy, ask for help, and explain why.
¿Cuál prefieres?; ¿Cuánto cuesta?; ¿Qué necesitas?; ¿Por qué estudias español?
Quick answers about Spanish question words
The main Spanish question words for beginners are qué, quién, dónde, cuándo, cómo, cuál, cuánto, and por qué. They mean what/which, who, where, when, how, which, how much/how many, and why.
Spanish questions usually keep the normal sentence order more often than English, but written Spanish uses both opening and closing question marks: ¿Dónde está el baño?
Pair this question group with high-frequency words and beginner verbs, then use the travel guide for real-world question practice.
Common words Beginner verbs Travel phrases
How to practise Spanish questions without overthinking grammar
- Learn the question word and one full example together.
- Listen to the Spanish question before reading the translation.
- Answer the question out loud with a one-word answer first: aquí, mañana, Ana, veinte.
- Write the question once from memory so accents and question marks become automatic.
- In Hola Cards, keep a separate question group with audio, writing, pronunciation practice, and spaced review.
Copy all 30 Spanish questions into a Hola Cards group
Open word groups in Hola Cards, choose paste/import, and paste this block. The app can read the title and the “Spanish - translation” lines.
**30 Spanish question words and beginner questions**
qué - what, which
quién - who
dónde - where
cuándo - when
cómo - how
cuál - which, what
cuánto / cuánta - how much
cuántos / cuántas - how many
por qué - why
¿Qué significa? - What does it mean?
¿Cómo se dice... en español? - How do you say... in Spanish?
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? - Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio? - Can you speak more slowly?
¿Habla inglés? - Do you speak English?
¿Quién es? - Who is it? / Who is he or she?
¿Con quién vas? - Who are you going with?
¿Cómo te llamas? - What is your name?
¿De dónde eres? - Where are you from?
¿Dónde está...? - Where is...?
¿A dónde vas? - Where are you going?
¿De dónde viene? - Where does it come from?
¿Está cerca? - Is it nearby?
¿Cuándo es? - When is it?
¿A qué hora es? - What time is it?
¿Cuánto tiempo tarda? - How long does it take?
¿Qué día es hoy? - What day is it today?
¿Cuál prefieres? - Which do you prefer?
¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much does it cost?
¿Qué necesitas? - What do you need?
¿Por qué estudias español? - Why are you studying Spanish?
Practise Spanish questions in Hola Cards
Hola Cards, also known as SpanishFlashcards on holacards.org, turns these Spanish question words and beginner questions into flashcards with audio, writing, pronunciation practice, custom groups, and spaced review on iOS and Android.