It is true, it is undeniable that Spanish has many shortcuts and corners that can lead you to different destinations; one of the controversial ones is the one that brings us on this occasion: when to use “cuál” and when to use “qué”?
At first glance, even a native Spanish speaker might say: how can you confuse these two words, they are completely different! And it’s true, in their form they are different. Unlike porque vs por qué vs porqué (which we have already talked about) or Que vs Qué (which we may talk about later), the dilemma between Cuál vs Qué is not one of form (appearance, spelling) but of substance (uses). Both words share certain uses (objects, information, choices), but in different ways.
If we add to that the fact that you are always told that “Qué” means “What” and “Cuál” means “Which”, the confusion might grow when you realize that in several occasions things are more complex than that simple translation.
Difference Between Cuál and Qué
Don’t panic, sometimes native Spanish speakers confuse or use one instead of the other, it won’t be the end of the world if you do. But if your purpose is to be a superior Spanish speaker, welcome! Let’s talk a little bit about those subtle, but important differences between these two words. Shall we start with the biggest one (and the one that will help you understand the rest of the differences)?
| Word | Means "What" with... | Means "Which" with... | Plural? | It is used before... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qué | Choices, definitions, explanations. | Preferences and objects. | Never. | Nouns and verbs |
| Cuál/Cuáles | Personal information | Choices or objects identification | It is written "Cuál" or "Cuáles" depending on the noun. | Spain: verbs only Latin America: verbs and nouns |
Choices with…
· “Qué”
Asking someone to choose using Qué has two options, the first is when you present a broad or undefined group to choose from (What), almost like an open-ended or generic question, in which case you should formulate it as follows:
[Qué + verb + complement]
For example:
Broad group: food
- ¿Qué debo comer para ganar músculo? – What should I eat to gain muscle?
Undefined group: activities
- ¿Qué harás al terminar la universidad? – What will you do when you finish college?
On the other hand, if the choice you pose is based on a particular object, but which is unknown to you or out of sight and which generally implies a preference (Which), you should say:
[Qué + noun + verb + complement]
For example:
- ¿Qué teléfono compró? – Which phone did he buy?
- ¿Qué moto te gusta más? – Which bike do you like best?
· “Cuál”
Unlike “Which”, when you pose a choice using “Cuál/Cuáles” (Which) the options are narrowed down either because the other person knows them or because you mention these to them beforehand, in which case we optionally say the items to choose from before or after the question:
[Cuál/Cuáles + conjugated verb]
Or
[Cuál/Cuáles + de + group to choose from]
For example:
- Hay muchos colores, ¿cuáles prefieres para la invitación? – There are many colors, which ones do you prefer for the invitation?
- ¿Cuál de estos sombreros quieres? – Which of these hats do you want?
Now, let’s suppose you want someone to choose between two or more objects that you both know or can see, but the choice is based more on the characteristics of those objects than on their subjectivity (preferences, desires), you would say:
[Cuál/Cuáles + conjugated verb + distinguishing feature]
For example:
- ¿Cuál posee Wi-Fi? – Which one has Wi-Fi?
- ¿Cuáles pesan menos? – Which ones weigh less?
If you are in Latin America, you will notice that the elections are approached a little differently, as they use something that is theoretically incorrect, which is:
[Cuál/Cuáles + noun]
As in:
- ¿Manga corta o larga? ¿Cuál camisa quieres? – Short or long sleeve? Which shirt do you want? (Preferences)
- ¿Cuáles hoteles aceptan tarjeta de crédito? – Which hotels accept credit cards? (Características)
Information with…
· “Qué” (What)
We enter the realm of the unknown, starting with definitions and meanings of that which we do not know. In that case, you can say:
[Qué + verb Ser conjugated + noun]
Or
[Qué + verb Significar conjugated + expression or noun]
For example:
- ¿Qué es la arepa? – What is arepa?
- ¿Qué significa “chévere”? – What does “chévere” mean?
Now, if the information you want to request is not precisely a definition, but an explanation, in that case you would say:
[Qué + conjugated verb + complement]
As in:
- ¿Qué hace funcionar un reloj? – What makes a watch work?
- ¿Qué sucedió ayer? – What happened yesterday?
· “Cuál” (What)
If the information you are asking for moves away from definitions/explanations and has more to do with the personal (name, phone, address, etc.) or the precise information, you should go to “Cuál/Cuáles”. This is how you will do it:
[Cuál / Cuáles + verb Ser conjugated + desired information]
For example:
- ¿Cuáles son tus apellidos? – What are your last names?
- ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? – What is your phone number?
A Brief Summary
We’re almost done! I find it very helpful to see the information condensed, and I think this chart can help you when you want to formulate a question more quickly. Don’t forget that when you make a question with the words qué or cuál /cuáles, they must have a tilde to mark that it is an interrogative. Now let’s break down the qué and cuáles:
| Use | Qué / Cuál | When? | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choices | Qué | Large or undefined groups or unknown or unseen objects (based on preferences) | ¿Qué comprarás en el supermercado? ¿Qué pizza pedimos? | What will you buy at the supermarket? Which pizza shall we order? |
| Cuál/Cuáles | Small or known group, visible objects (based on characteristics) | Ambos me gustan, pero ¿cuál compro? ¿Cuál es deslactosada? | I like both, but which one do I buy? Which one is lactose-free? |
|
| Information | Qué | Meaning / definition / explanation | ¿Qué significa “tacaño”? ¿Qué es una pastilla? ¿Qué hace un bombero? | What does "tacaño" mean? What is a pill? What does a fireman do? |
| Cuál/Cuáles | Personal / specific information | ¿Cuál es tu estatura? ¿Cuál es el tren a Tokio? | What is your height? What is the train to Tokyo? |
Cuál vs Qué – Quiz/Worksheet
Let’s review and see how you do.
1. ¿______ es la edad de tu padre? – What is your father’s age?
2. ¿______ son exóticas? – Which ones are exotic?
3. ¿De ______ material está hecho ese auto? – What material is this car made of?
4. ¿ _______ de tus hermanos es el mayor? – Which of your siblings is the oldest?
5. ¿____ es el amor? – What is love?
Answers
Remember that it is possible to make mistakes, but it is mandatory not to give up in practice, ready?
1. Cuál
2. Cuáles
3. Qué
4. Cuál
5. Qué
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