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Both qué and cuál can mean “what” and “which”, but they are not interchangeable. It can be confusing trying to sort out when to use each one but once you know the grammatical rule, it’s a snap.

• Qué asks for an identification or a definition.

¿Qué es esto? What is this?
¿Qué es un cóctel Molotov? What’s a Molotov cocktail?

• Qué followed by a noun asks “which one?”

¿Qué vestido te gusta más? Which dress do you like best?
¿Qué manzana vas a comer? Which apple are you going to eat?

• Cuál followed by a form of the Spanish verb “ser” asks “what” (which one of all the possibilities).

¿Cuál es tu nombre? What is your name?

If someone were to ask “¿Qué es un nombre?” They are asking for a literal definition of what a name is. The answer: A name is a way of identifying a person.

¿Cuál es la fecha? What is today’s date?

If someone were to ask ¿Qué es la fecha? they would be asking literally for a definition of the word “date.”

“¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?“ I will respond, maybe , by giving you a phone number. What’s your phone number? (Answer: 555-1234)

“¿Qué es un número de teléfono? Answer: A phone number is a series of digits that connects to a communication device and enables one person in one location to speak to another person in another location.

• Cuál + de + a plural noun asks “which” of two or more alternatives.

¿Cuál de los libros prefieres? Which book do you prefer?

Have Spanish grammar or vocabulary questions? Visit the Word Reference Spanish-English forum for quick answers.

–By Eleena from Voices en Español

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