Asking questions in Spanish is straightforward once you know the key question words and how to invert or use intonation. This guide covers common question words, sentence types, and useful phrases for everyday conversation.
Question Words
Question words in Spanish each serve a specific function like asking for time, place, reason, manner, or person, and they prompt detailed answers rather than yes/no responses.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Quién? | Who? | |
| ¿Qué? | What? | |
| ¿Cuándo? | When? | |
| ¿Dónde? | Where? | |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? | |
| ¿Cómo? | How? | |
| ¿Cuál? | Which? | |
| ¿Cuánto? | How much / How many? |
Who is calling on the phone?
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions can be formed by simply changing intonation in speech or by inverting the subject and verb in writing, and they invite a short affirmative or negative answer.
Intonation
Intonation questions keep the normal sentence order and rely on a rising pitch at the end to signal a question, making them quick and natural in speech.
Inversion
Inversion questions swap the verb and subject for emphasis or clarity, and they are commonly used in written Spanish and formal speech.
Questions with Qué and Cuál
Use qué for general definitions or when asking for an explanation, and use cuál when choosing from a set of options or when the question is followed by a verb.
Questions with Cómo and Cuánto
Use cómo to ask about manner, condition, or identity, and use cuánto to ask about quantity, price, or extent, making sure to agree in gender and number with the noun.
Additional Question Expressions
Phrases like ¿verdad?, ¿no?, and ¿no es así? can be added to turn statements into questions or to seek confirmation, making conversations more interactive.
Asking for More Information
To ask for more details or clarification, you can use follow-up questions like ¿puedes explicar...?, ¿me dices...?, or ¿qué quieres decir...?, which prompt the speaker to elaborate.
Summary
Spanish questions rely on key question words, sentence order, and intonation to signal what information is sought; practicing short questions aloud helps internalize the patterns for natural use.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025