Spanish Question Words: Mastering Who, What, Where, When, and Why


Learning Spanish can be exciting, but asking questions correctly is key to effective communication. Whether you’re traveling to Spain or Latin America, or learning Spanish online, knowing Spanish question words is essential. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common question words—who, what, where, when, and why—and provide examples to help you speak confidently.

Why Learning Spanish Question Words Is Important

Question words, or interrogatives, are the building blocks of conversation. They allow you to:

  • Ask for directions, information, and advice.

  • Communicate with locals while traveling.

  • Improve comprehension in Spanish media.

  • Build confidence in everyday conversations.

Mastering these words helps beginners and intermediate learners avoid common mistakes and sound natural.

The Core Spanish Question Words

Here’s a simple breakdown of the most commonly used Spanish question words:

English Spanish Pronunciation Example Sentence
Who Quién kyehn ¿Quién es tu profesor? (Who is your teacher?)
What Qué keh ¿Qué quieres comer? (What do you want to eat?)
Where Dónde dohn-deh ¿Dónde está la estación? (Where is the station?)
When Cuándo kwahn-doh ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? (When is your birthday?)
Why Por qué por keh ¿Por qué estudias español? (Why are you studying Spanish?)

1. Who – Quién / Quiénes

  • Use quién for singular “who” and quiénes for plural “who”.

  • Examples:

    • ¿Quién llama? (Who is calling?)

    • ¿Quiénes vienen a la fiesta? (Who is coming to the party?)

2. What – Qué / Cuál

  • Qué is used to ask about things or definitions.

  • Cuál / Cuáles is used for choices or selections.

  • Examples:

    • ¿Qué es esto? (What is this?)

    • ¿Cuál prefieres, el rojo o el azul? (Which one do you prefer, red or blue?)

3. Where – Dónde / Adónde

  • Dónde asks about location.

  • Adónde asks about destination (where to).

  • Examples:

    • ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?)

    • ¿Adónde vas? (Where are you going?)

4. When – Cuándo

  • Always ask about time, dates, or events.

  • Examples:

    • ¿Cuándo empieza la película? (When does the movie start?)

    • ¿Cuándo podemos encontrarnos? (When can we meet?)

5. Why – Por qué / Para qué

  • Por qué asks for reason.

  • Para qué asks for purpose or intention.

  • Examples:

    • ¿Por qué estudias español? (Why are you studying Spanish?)

    • ¿Para qué sirve esto? (What is this for?)

Tips to Remember Spanish Question Words

  1. Accents matter – Don’t forget the written accent on question words (qué, dónde, cuándo, por qué). Without them, the meaning can change.

  2. Inversion – In Spanish, questions often invert the subject and verb:

    • ¿Dónde estás tú? (Where are you?)

  3. Use polite forms – Add “por favor” or use usted forms when asking strangers.

    • ¿Cuándo llega usted, por favor? (When will you arrive, please?)

  4. Practice with real-life questions – Ask locals, tutors, or online partners to solidify your skills.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting accents on question words: “Que” vs. “Qué”

  • Using cuál instead of qué for definitions.

  • Mixing por qué and para qué incorrectly.

Practice Exercise

Translate the following questions into Spanish:

  1. Who is your best friend?

  2. What do you like to eat?

  3. Where is the nearest pharmacy?

  4. When does the store open?

  5. Why are you learning Spanish?

Answers:

  1. ¿Quién es tu mejor amigo?

  2. ¿Qué te gusta comer?

  3. ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana?

  4. ¿Cuándo abre la tienda?

  5. ¿Por qué aprendes español?

Mastering Spanish question words is the first step to becoming conversational. With consistent practice, you’ll be able to ask clear questions, understand responses, and engage confidently in Spanish-speaking environments.