How to ask questions in Spanish?

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, September 14, 2023

'Preguntando se llega a Roma' is a very popular saying in Spain which means that you should not be ashamed or afraid to ask questions when you have doubts. This is essential if you are learning a language, even more so if it is Spanish.

For this reason, we want to help you with the vocabulary so you can ask basic questions in Spanish and never have any doubts. Although they are not only necessary to solve questions in class, but they are also necessary to know how to get by in everyday Spanish.

Basic questions in Spanish

Questions in Spanish are a fundamental part of communication, and understanding how to ask them takes you one step closer to mastering the language. If you are learning Spanish and want to improve it fast, questions are an essential tool for starting conversations and getting information.

Here are some key Spanish words and phrases for asking questions, along with their English translations, as well as some examples of their use.

Interrogative pronouns

• ¿Qué? (What?)
• ¿Quién? (Who?)
• ¿Dónde? (Where?)
• ¿Cuándo? (When?)
• ¿Por qué? (Why?)
• ¿Cómo? (How?)
• ¿Cuál? or ¿Cuáles? (Which?)

In Spanish, questions can be asked in several ways, although the main pronouns used are the ones mentioned above. These particles will allow you to formulate questions depending on the context and solve all the doubts that arise in each situation.

For example, if you have not understood a concept during your class, you can ask in Spanish: ¿Qué has dicho? ¿Puedes repetir eso último, por favor? No te oí (Whay did you just say? Can you repeat that, please? I didn't hear you). Also, you can ask: ¿Puedes hablar más despacio? No te entendí (Can you speak more slowly? I didn't understand you).

On the other hand, in a more social, everyday situation, the questions vary, but the formulation remains the same. For example: ¿Qué quieres para cenar? (What do you want for dinner?) or ¿Cómo llegaste a la fiesta? (How did you get to the party?).

Open questions vs. closed questions

In Spanish, it is important to distinguish between open and closed questions, as each has its own purpose. For example, the words ¿Qué? (What?) or ¿Cómo? (How?) are usually used for open questions that require more detailed answers. Closed questions, on the other hand, allow for short answers such as Yes or No.

For example, an open question would be: ¿Qué te gustaría hacer este fin de semana? (What would you like to do this weekend?). Whereas a closed question is: ¿Vas a ir a la fiesta esta noche? (Are you going to the party tonight?).

Conversations with questions

Here are several conversations between two people in which questions and answers are formulated according to the context.

Conversation 1:

• Person 1: ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estás? (Hello! How are you?)
• Person 2: Estoy bien, ¿y tú? (I'm fine, and you?)
• Person 1: ¿Qué has hecho hoy? (What have you done today?)
• Person 2: Hoy he ido a trabajar y al dentista, ¿qué has hecho tú? (I went to work and to the dentist today, what did you do?)

Conversation 2:

• Person 1: ¿Te gusta la música? (Do you like music?)
• Person 2: Sí, me encanta. ¿Y a ti? (Yes, I love it. How about you?)
• Person 1: A mí también. ¿Cuál es tu banda favorita? (Me too. Who is your favorite band?)

Conversation 3:

• Student 1: ¿Qué opinas sobre el cambio climático? (What do you think about climate change?)
• Student 2: Creo que es un problema grave. ¿Y tú? (I think it's a serious issue. How about you?)

Learn Spanish easily with Enforex

Remember that asking questions is an effective way to learn and improve your Spanish. Don't hesitate to use these tools to explore the language and connect with native speakers.

Whether, if you want to learn Spanish in cities like Seville, Madrid, Valencia or Malaga, at Enforex we have intensive, specialised and immersive courses that are perfect for any level. Visit our website and find out more about these Spanish courses in Spain for all ages.