Question words
Words like qué, quién, cuándo, dónde, and por qué help Spanish ask for the exact missing information.
Examples
SpanishTranslation
¿Por qué llegas tan tarde?
Why are you arriving so late?
¿Qué quieres comer hoy?
What do you want to eat today?
¿Quién vive aquí?
Who lives here?
Pattern
question word + verb + rest
How it works
Words like qué, quién, cuándo, dónde, and por qué help Spanish ask for the exact missing information. This pattern typically appears as question word + verb + rest and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The question word usually opens the clause.
- Por qué is written as two words in direct questions.
Why it matters
These structures appear early in dialogues, menus, and short interactions.
Use in context
Question words deserve their own page because they power real interaction far more than memorized phrase lists do.