What Does Que Mean in Spanish?
Que means 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' or 'than' in Spanish, while qué (with accent) means 'what?' Learn the difference between que and qué with clear examples.
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Quick answer
Que (no accent) means 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' or 'than,' and it links clauses together — 'el libro que leí' (the book that I read). Qué (with an accent) means 'what?' or 'how!' and is used in questions and exclamations — '¿Qué quieres?' (What do you want?). The accent mark is the key difference between these two very common words.
What Does Que Mean in Spanish?
Que is among the most common words in Spanish, and like como, its meaning hinges on a tiny accent mark. Without an accent, que means “that,” “which,” “who,” or “than” — it connects ideas. With an accent, qué means “what?” or “how!” — it asks and exclaims. Tell those two apart and you’ve solved most of the confusion.
Que (No Accent): That, Which, Who, Than
Unaccented que is a relative pronoun and conjunction. It glues clauses together:
- That (conjunction): Creo que tienes razón. — I think that you’re right.
- That / which (relative): El coche que compré es rojo. — The car that I bought is red.
- Who (relative): La mujer que vino es mi tía. — The woman who came is my aunt.
- Than (comparison): Es más rápido que yo. — He’s faster than me.
Qué (With Accent): What? How!
Accented qué carries emphasis — used in questions and exclamations, direct or indirect:
- ¿Qué quieres? — What do you want?
- ¿Qué es esto? — What is this?
- No sé qué decir. — I don’t know what to say.
- ¡Qué bonito! — How pretty! / What a beautiful thing!
Que vs Qué at a Glance
| Form | Accent | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| que | none | that / which / who | Dijo que vendría. (He said that he’d come.) |
| que | none | than | mejor que nunca (better than ever) |
| qué | yes | what? | ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) |
| qué | yes | how! / what a! | ¡Qué calor! (How hot it is!) |
Common Expressions with Que / Qué
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué tal? | How’s it going? |
| ¿Qué pasa? | What’s up? / What’s happening? |
| ¡Qué bueno! | How great! / Awesome! |
| tener que | to have to |
| así que | so / therefore |
| ¡Que sí! / ¡Que no! | Yes, really! / No, really! |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? (note: porque = because) |
Formality and Connotation
Both que and qué are completely neutral, appearing constantly in every register from casual chat to formal writing. The single thing to watch is the accent in writing: leaving it off turns “what?” into “that.” In speech, the words are identical, so intonation and context carry the meaning.
Example Sentences
- Espero que estés bien. — I hope that you’re well.
- ¿Qué hiciste ayer? — What did you do yesterday?
- Tengo más trabajo que tú. — I have more work than you.
- ¡Qué sorpresa verte aquí! — What a surprise to see you here!
Learn the accent rule — qué for questions and exclamations, que for everything else — and one of Spanish’s most-used words becomes effortless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between que and qué?
The accent mark changes everything. 'Qué' (with an accent) is a question or exclamation word meaning 'what?' or 'how!', as in '¿Qué pasa?' (What's happening?). 'Que' (no accent) is a connector meaning 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' or 'than,' as in 'Creo que sí' (I think that yes). They sound the same but do different jobs.
Does que mean than in Spanish?
Yes, in comparisons 'que' means 'than.' For example, 'más alto que tú' means 'taller than you,' and 'menos caro que esto' means 'less expensive than this.' Here 'que' joins the two things being compared, just like 'than' does in English.
What does qué tal mean?
'¿Qué tal?' is a casual greeting meaning 'How's it going?' or 'How are you?' It can also mean 'How about...?' when proposing something, as in '¿Qué tal una pizza?' (How about a pizza?). It's friendly and very common in everyday conversation.
What does que sí and que no mean?
These are emphatic confirmations. 'Que sí' insists 'yes (I mean it)' and 'que no' insists 'no (really).' If someone doubts you, you might say '¡Que sí!' to mean 'Yes, I'm telling you!' The 'que' adds emphasis, reinforcing the answer.
How do you pronounce que in Spanish?
Que is pronounced 'keh.' The 'qu' makes a hard k sound (the 'u' is silent), and the 'e' sounds like the 'e' in 'bet.' Whether or not it carries a written accent, the spoken sound is identical: 'keh.'