The difference between Qué and Cuál in Spanish is often a matter of concern for students of Spanish whose native language is English and who cannot make a literal translation into their own language. In this lesson we are going to take a look at the differences between the two words.
First of all, let’s see what happens with the verb TO BE.
What is: this form implies the question for a definition.
What is a cat?/ What is a cat?
A cat is a small feline animal that is only kept as a pet. / A cat is a small feline animal, generally taken as a pet.
What is it: This is a question for an election. From a homogeneous group, you have a choice. You want to know a name.
What is your favorite movie? (of all possible movies)/ What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Terminator./ My favorite movie is Terminator.
What is the capital of Argentina? (of all possible capitals)/ What is the capital of Argentina?
The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires./ The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires
What’s your Number? (from a long list of possible names)/ What is your name?
My number is Anna./ My name is Anna.
When the question is “which one” you only have to answer with one option, but this question has a plural version, where you can answer with more than one option.
What are your favorite books?/ What are your favorite books?
My favorite books are “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “13.99 euros”. My favorite books are “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “13.99 euros”.
What are the colors you like the most?/ What are the colors you like more?
The colors I like the most are red and blue./ The colors I like the most are red and blue.
what + verb
When I ask: What do you want to drink? / What do you want to drink? I am not giving you options, you can answer anything from a heterogeneous group: coffee (coffe), milk (milk), water (water), beer (cerveza), strawberry smoothie, etc.
Or: What do we cook, pizza or empanadas?/ What should we cook, pizza or empanadas?
Which + Verb
When I ask you: Which do you prefer?/ Which do you prefer?, I have some options for you, and I show them to you from a table or hold them in my hands: Which do you prefer, this one or this one?/ Which do you prefer this or this? ?
We can ask the same thing using Que + the noun + Verb.
What drink do you prefer?/ What drink do you prefer?
What color do you like the most?/ What color do you like the most?
