One of the most frequent difficulties for English speakers learning Spanish is mastering the use of cual vs que. Because they can both be translated to "what" or "which" in English, these two question words frequently lead to misunderstandings. Their use in Spanish, however, varies depending on the sentence's context.
The slight difference between these two terms is not directly equivalent in English, which leads to confusion. In Spanish, "cuál" refers to a choice between particular options, whereas "qué" is typically used to request information about something in a broader sense. For instance, "¿Qué comes?" (What are you eating?) asks about a general topic while "¿Cuál prefieres?" (Which one do you prefer?) asks about a particular option.
This blog will help you in managing the nuances of "qué" vs. "cuál." Your Spanish conversations will flow naturally as you learn how to use these words appropriately in a variety of situations. Let's break down how to become familiar with Spanish grammar and learn how to use cual vs. que.
Key Tips Box
| Use "Qué" for General Inquiries: Ask for general information or definitions, like "¿Qué es la fotosíntesis?" (What is photosynthesis?). Use "Cuál" for Specific Choices: Ask about specific options, such as "¿Cuál prefieres?" (Which one do you prefer?). Watch Accent Marks and Context: Remember "cuál" and "cuáles" have accents. Use "qué de" for characteristics and "cuál de" for selecting from a group. |
Common Translations in English
Asking for Definitions with Qué and Cuál
Choosing Between Options: The Set Rule
Qué de vs Cuál de: Special Constructions
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
To use "qué" and "cuál" correctly in Spanish, one needs to know the basics. Depending on the situation, both words can be either interrogative pronouns or adjectives, but they have different forms and purposes. Here's a detailed comparison tab:
| Feature | Qué | Cuál/Cuáles |
| Function | General information, definitions, explanations, time, or identification | Choice between specific options, personal information, or preferences |
| Form | Invariable (singular/plural) | Variable: cuál (singular), cuáles (plural) |
| Examples | ¿Qué comes? (What are you eating?)¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)¿Qué es esto? (What is this?) | ¿Cuál prefieres? (Which one do you prefer?)¿Cuáles son tus colores favoritos? (Which are your favorite colors?)¿Cuál es tu apellido? (What is your last name?) |
| Use with Verbs | Often used with verbs like ser (to be) to ask about definitions or meanings: ¿Qué es una tortilla? (What is a tortilla?) | Used with ser to ask for specific information: ¿Cuál es la capital de Chile? (What is the capital of Chile?) |
| Use with Nouns | Can be followed directly by a noun: ¿Qué libro estás leyendo? (What book are you reading?) | Needs the preposition "de" to indicate choice from a group: ¿Cuál de estos libros prefieres? (Which one of these books do you prefer?) |
| Interrogative Role | Can act as both an interrogative pronoun and adjective | Acts as both an interrogative pronoun and adjective, but typically implies a choice |
When you want general information about something, you use "qué." Whether it refers to a singular or plural noun, its form remains unchanged. For instance, "¿Qué comes?" "¿Qué hora es?" (What time is it?) or "¿Qué hora es?" (What are you eating?).
On the other hand, cuál is a pronoun or interrogative adjective that takes on different forms depending on whether it refers to a singular or plural noun. "Cuál" is the singular form, and "cuáles" is the plural. It is employed to inquire about a decision between particular options. For example, "¿Cuál prefieres?" (Which is your favorite?) or "¿Cuáles son tus colores favoritos?" Which colors are your favorites?
The words qué and cuál (along with other interrogative/exclamative words like quién, cómo, cuándo, dónde, etc.) use an accent mark (tilde diacrítica) to distinguish them from their unstressed (átonas) counterparts.
"Qué" with an accent mark is used in interrogative and exclamative sentences (both direct and indirect questions/exclamations). "Que" without an accent mark is used as a relative pronoun or a conjunction.
"Cuál" and "Cuáles" with an accent mark are used in interrogative sentences to ask about a choice between specific options. "Cual" and "Cuales" without an accent mark are relative pronouns.
Depending on the situation, the English translations of "qué" and "cuál" can both mean "what" or "which." However, when trying to apply English grammar rules to Spanish, this translated similarity may cause confusion.
| Qué | Cuál |
| "Qué" often translates to "what" when asking for general information. t can also be translated as "what" when asking for definitions or explanations. | "Cuál" typically translates to "which" when asking about a specific choice between options. It can also be translated as "what" when asking for specific personal information, like a name or surname. |
| ¿Qué comes? (What are you eating?) General information.¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) General information.¿Qué es una tortilla? (What is a tortilla?) Definition or explanation. | ¿Cuál prefieres? (Which one do you prefer?) Specific choice.¿Cuál es tu color favorito? (Which is your favorite color?) Specific choice.¿Cuál es tu apellido? (What is your last name?) Personal information. |
Direct translation of "qué" and "cuál" into English can cause problems due to several reasons beyond the simple distinction between "what" and "which." Here are some of it:
Idiomatic Expressions: Both "qué" and "cuál" are used in idiomatic expressions that don't translate directly into English. For example, "¿Qué pasa?" (What's happening?) is often used to ask about someone's well-being or to express concern, similar to "How are you?" in English. Direct translation can miss the cultural nuance and context.
Formal vs. Informal: Spanish has formal and informal forms of address, which can affect how "qué" and "cuál" are used. In formal situations, the choice of words might differ, and direct translation can overlook these subtleties.
Word Order: Spanish and English have different word orders in sentences. For instance, in Spanish, the verb often comes after the subject, while in English, it usually comes after the subject. Direct translation can lead to awkward or incorrect sentence structures.
Interrogative vs. Declarative: The use of "qué" and "cuál" in interrogative sentences is distinct from their use in declarative sentences. In English, the distinction is less rigid, leading to potential misunderstandings when translating directly.
Implication of Choice: "Cuál" implies a choice between specific options, which might not be as clear in English translations. For example, "¿Cuál prefieres?" (Which one do you prefer?) explicitly suggests choosing between options, whereas a direct translation might not convey this nuance.
General vs. Specific Inquiry: "Qué" is used for general inquiries, while "cuál" is more specific. Direct translation can blur this distinction, leading to confusion about the intended meaning.
Established Equivalents: In translation, established equivalents are often used to convey the same meaning in a different language. However, these equivalents might not be direct translations. For example, "¿Qué hora es?" (What time is it?) is more commonly translated as "What's the time?" in English, which is an established equivalent rather than a direct translation.
Colloquialisms and Slang: Both languages have colloquial expressions that don't translate directly. For instance, "¿Qué onda?" (What's up?) is a casual greeting in Spanish, similar to "How's it going?" in English. Direct translation can miss these colloquial nuances.
When using the verb "ser" (to be) in Spanish, the choice between "qué" and "cuál" depends on the type of information you are seeking. Here's a fundamental rule to guide you:
| ‘Qué’ rule | ‘Cuál’ rule |
| Qué + Ser is used for definitions or general explanations | Cuál + Ser is used for specific information or to identify something from a group. |
| ¿Qué es la fotosíntesis? (What is photosynthesis?) - Here, "qué" is used to ask for a definition or explanation of a concept. ¿Qué es el surrealismo? (What is surrealism?) - This asks for an explanation of an artistic movement. | ¿Cuál es el nombre de la capital de Australia? (What is the name of the capital of Australia?) - "Cuál" is used to ask for specific information about a particular city. ¿Cuál es el código postal de Madrid? (What is the postal code of Madrid?) - This asks for specific information about a city's postal code. |
When you want to ask for definitions or explanations in Spanish, you use the combination "qué + ser." This is typically introduced by the phrase "¿Qué es...?" (What is...?) and is used to seek a general explanation or definition of something.
To ask for specific information, such as names, identities, or particular details, you use "cuál + ser." This is often introduced by the phrase "¿Cuál es...?" (What is...?) and is used when you want to identify something from a group or specify a particular item.
When choosing between options in Spanish, the type of options you are considering determines whether you use "qué" or "cuál." This decision hinges on whether the options are broad and intangible or specific and limited.
"Qué" is used when the options are unlimited, abstract, or open-ended. This typically involves asking about preferences or choices that are not confined to a specific set of tangible items. In the following examples, "qué" is used because the choices are not constrained to a particular group or list.
"Cual" is used when selecting from a specific, limited set of options. This typically involves tangible items or choices that are clearly defined within a group. In the following scenarios, "cuál" is used because the options are specific and belong to a well-defined group.
In Spanish, adding "de" to "qué" and "cuál" creates special constructions that change the meaning and usage of these words. Let’s see it closer:
| Qué de | Cuál de |
| "Qué de" is used to ask about characteristics or aspects of something. It is often translated as "what about" and is used to inquire about specific qualities or features. | "Cual de" is used to select from a specific set of options. It is often translated as "which one of" and is used to choose between clearly defined alternatives. |
| ¿Qué de bueno tiene este restaurante? (What good things does this restaurant have?) - Asking about positive aspects.¿Qué de interesante hay en esa ciudad? (What interesting things are there in that city?) - Inquiring about appealing features.¿Qué de nuevo hay en el nuevo modelo de teléfono? (What's new about the new phone model?) - Asking about new features. | ¿Cuál de estas opciones prefieres? (Which one of these options do you prefer?) - Choosing from a limited set.¿Cuál de estos colores te parece mejor para la habitación? (Which one of these colors do you think is better for the room?) - Selecting from a specific group of colors.¿Cuál de estos libros es el más interesante? (Which one of these books is the most interesting?) - Choosing from a specific set of books. |
English speakers frequently struggle with the words "qué" and "cuál" when learning Spanish. Here are a few typical errors:
One of the most common mistakes is forgetting the accent marks on words like "cuál" and "cuáles." Accent marks are crucial in Spanish because they can completely change the meaning of a word.
Example: ¿Cuál prefieres? (Which one do you prefer?) vs. El libro, del cual me hablaste, es interesante (The book which you told me about is interesting.)
English and Spanish have different grammatical structures and word choices, so direct translation can lead to incorrect or unnatural-sounding sentences.
English: "What is your favorite color?"
To help you choose between "qué" and "cuál" in Spanish, here's a chart and a summary of key rules:
| Case | ¿Qué or Cuál? | Example |
| Are you asking for a general explanation or definition? | Use qué. | ¿Qué es la fotosíntesis? (What is photosynthesis?) |
| Are you asking about a specific choice or option? | Use cuál. | ¿Cuál prefieres? (Which one do you prefer?) |
| Is the question about a specific item from a group? | Yes: Use cuál de. | ¿Cuál de estos libros prefieres? (Which one of these books do you prefer?) |
| Are you inquiring about characteristics or aspects? | Yes: Use qué de. | ¿Qué de bueno tiene este restaurante? (What good things does this restaurant have?) |
Qué:
Cuál:
Qué de:
Cuál de:
To sum up, knowing the distinction between "qué" and "cuál" is crucial for proficient Spanish communication. The primary difference between the two is how they are used: "qué" is used for definitions or general questions, whereas "cuál" is used for questions about particular options or choices. For instance, "qué" is used to ask for a general explanation in "¿Qué es esto?" (What is this?) while "cuál prefieres?" (Which one do you prefer?) asks about a specific choice. Furthermore, "qué de" and "cuál de" play different roles; "qué de" asks about qualities, while "cuál de" chooses from a predetermined list.
Practice using "qué" and "cuál" in various contexts to strengthen your understanding. Consider creating sentences that indicate their unique applications, such as using "qué" to request definitions and "cuál" to select options. Keep in mind that regular practice will help you retain these ideas and improve your ability to speak Spanish accurately and naturally. By concentrating on the nuances of "qué" and "cuál," you'll enhance your general knowledge of Spanish grammar and boost your confidence in your communication.
