Wiktionary

qué

See also: Appendix:Variations of "que"

Asturian

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Etymology

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From Latin quid.

Adverb

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qué

  1. what (such)

Pronoun

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qué

  1. (interrogative) what (interrogative pronoun)
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French

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ke/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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qué

  1. (Provence) which

Conjunction

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qué

  1. (nonstandard) Alternative form of que (representing the Hispanic pronunciation) (clarification of this definition is needed)

Interjection

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qué

  1. (Provence, Switzerland) Isn’t it? Is it not?
  2. (Provence) What?

Mandarin

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Romanization

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qué (que2, Zhuyin ㄑㄩㄝˊ)

  1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of 瘸

Occitan

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Etymology

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From Old Occitan que, from Latin quid, but also usurping some of the roles of Latin quod.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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qué

  1. which
    Synonyms: quin, qual

Pronoun

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qué

  1. (interrogative) what
  2. that, that which

Portuguese

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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qué

  1. Alternative form of quá quá

Spanish

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Etymology

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Inherited from Latin quid.

Pronunciation

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Determiner

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qué (interrogative)

  1. what; which (interrogative only)
    ¿Qué camisa quiere?
    Which shirt do you want?
  2. what; which
    No sabía qué hacer
    I didn't know what to do

Adverb

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qué

  1. (before a noun) what a; such (used as an intensifier)
    ¡Qué lástima! ― What a pity!
    ¡Qué suerte! ― What luck!
    ¡Qué casa más bonita! ― What a pretty house!
    ¡Qué mierda de tiempo! ― What shitty weather!
  2. (before an adjective) how (used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings)
    ¡Qué feo! ― How ugly!
    ¡Qué alto! ― He's so tall!
    ¡Qué guay! ― That's so cool!

Pronoun

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qué

  1. what (interrogative only)
    ¿Qué ves? ― What do you see?

Usage notes

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  • There are certain times where cuál would translate as "what" in English and qué would translate as "which". This can confuse English speakers.

Here are some guidelines:

  1. If you are using a form of the verb ser, then unless you are asking the definition or meaning of something, you would use cuál even if in English, one would translate it as "what"
    ¿Cuál es su nombre?
    What is your name?
    ¿Cuál es el problema aquí?
    What is the problem here?
  2. If in English, the interrogative pronoun "what" or "which" is operating as an adjective preceding the modified noun, then you would use qué and not cuál even if in English you might translate it as "which"
    ¿Qué medicamentos ha tomado en el pasado, señor?
    Which medications have you taken in the past, sir?
    ¿Qué pobre señorita ha capturado tu corazón esta vez?
    Which poor young lady has captured your heart this time?
    ¿Qué color de la pintura prefieres para las paredes del baño, rosa o marrón?
    Which color of paint do you prefer for the bathroom walls, pink or brown?

Derived terms

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See also

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Further reading

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Vietnamese

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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qué • (㹟, 𤡱)

  1. poultry

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