Asking Questions
Asking questions in Spanish lets you get information, clarify things, and keep conversations going. This guide covers the main ways to ask questions and useful words to plan.
Form Questions
Spanish asks questions by changing word order, adding question marks, and sometimes using question words. You can flip the subject and verb or keep them in place for short clarifications.
Question Words
Question words, or palabras interrogativas, tell you what kind of information you want, like time, place, reason, or manner. They all carry an accent to show they are questions.
| Spanish Word | English Word | Spanish Word | English Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Quién? | Who? | ¿Cuándo? | When? |
| ¿Qué? | What? | ¿Dónde? | Where? |
| ¿Cuál? | Which? | ¿Por qué? | Why? |
| ¿Cómo? | How? | ¿Cuánto? | How much / How many? |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌍 ¿Dónde está el museo? | Where is the museum? |
| ⏰ ¿A qué hora abre la galería? | What time does the gallery open? |
| 🧑 ¿Quién es el artista de esta obra? | Who is the artist of this piece? |
| 🧾 ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada? | How much is the admission? |
| 🛠️ ¿Cómo se hizo esta escultura? | How was this sculpture made? |
| 🏳️ ¿Por qué hay tantas luces en esta sala? | Why are there so many lights in this room? |
Form Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions can invert the subject and verb or keep the normal order with a questioning tone. You don't need a question word for these; just use the opening and closing question marks.
Asking for Details
To ask for more specific details, use the appropriate question word and place it at the beginning of the sentence. Follow it with the verb and then the subject if needed, so the question stays clear.
Asking Questions in Context
In conversations, short questions and quick clarifications work best. Sometimes speakers drop subjects or use brief forms to keep the flow natural, especially in spoken language.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🖼️ ¿Este cuadro es de arte moderno? | Is this painting modern art? |
| 🧍 ¿Puedo hablar con el guía, por favor? | Can I speak with the guide, please? |
| 🎫 ¿Se pueden comprar las entradas aquí? | Can tickets be bought here? |
| 🗺️ ¿Hay un mapa del museo disponible? | Is there a map of the museum available? |
| 📅 ¿El museo está abierto los domingos? | Is the museum open on Sundays? |
Practice
Summary
Asking questions in Spanish relies on question words, inverted word order, and clear question marks. Learn the key palabras interrogativas and practice forming both yes/no and detail questions to get information smoothly.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025