What does que mean?

What Does Que Mean?

Introduction

Do you ever come across Spanish words or phrases and wonder what they mean? Que is a popular word used in the Spanish language and can be heard throughout Latin America. This article will discuss what que means, how it is used, and its various nuances in Spanish speaking countries.

Meaning

In Spanish, que means “what”, “which”, “who”, or “that”. It is used to ask questions and can refer to people, things, or ideas. For example, in English, you could say “What is your name?” The Spanish version of the same question would be, “¿Que es tu nombre?” Que can also be used to ask for someone’s opinion, such as in the sentence, “¿Que piensas?” or “What do you think?”

Usage

Que is an interrogative pronoun, so it is typically used when asking a question. It can be used alone or combined with other words. For example, “¿Que haces?” or “What are you doing?” is a commonly heard question in Spanish. Que can also be used to form the past perfect tense. For example, “había que” or “had to”. It is also used to form conditional sentences such as, “que” or “would.”

Nuances

Que is also used to express emotions. In many Latin American countries, it is used to express surprise, confusion, or disbelief. For example, “¡Que interesante!” or “How interesting!” is often said when something unexpected is heard. Que can also be used in exclamations, such as “¡Que linda!” or “How lovely!”

Conclusion

In conclusion, que is a versatile word used frequently in Spanish. It means “what”, “which”, “who”, or “that” and can be used to ask questions and express emotions. While it is a basic word, it can be combined with other words to form sentences and phrases in various tenses. Understanding the various nuances of que in Latin American Spanish will help you communicate with native Spanish speakers.