Ask clear questions in Spanish
Use question words and Spanish punctuation in everyday sentences. Practise qué, dónde, cuándo and cómo, and the inverted mark that opens each question.
Where, what and how much
¿Dónde está la estación? asks where the station is. ¿Qué significa esta palabra? asks what a word means. ¿Cuánto cuesta? asks the price of something.
Write both question marks
Written direct questions use ¿ at the start and ? at the end. Preserve accents in question words such as dónde, qué and cuánto. There is no extra full stop immediately after the closing question mark.
Choose the question you need
¿Quién es? asks who someone is; ¿Cuándo sale el tren? asks when the train leaves; ¿Cómo se dice esto en español? asks how to say something in Spanish. A yes-or-no question needs no question word: ¿Está abierto? means Is it open? If you do not understand the reply, say No entiendo. ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Try it
Add the missing signs and accents: Donde esta la estacion. Then ask how much something costs.
Check your answer
¿Dónde está la estación? ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Practical guides
Ask for directions in Spain
Find a station, follow simple directions and ask someone to repeat more slowly. Practise derecha, izquierda and todo recto with real Spanish examples.
Shop and ask prices in Spanish
Ask about prices, sizes and payment with practical Spanish shopping examples, from cuánto cuesta to paying by card and asking for a different size.
Check in at a hotel in Spanish
Explain a reservation, ask about breakfast and describe a simple room problem in Spanish, with the phrases you actually need at a hotel desk in Spain.
Tell the time and make plans in Spanish
Practise es la una, son las dos and a las with simple meeting arrangements, so you can agree a time and a place to meet someone and confirm it in Spanish.
Spanish greetings and introductions
Start a conversation, introduce yourself and ask someone’s name. Practise hola, me llamo and cómo te llamas in one short, complete Spanish exchange.
Order at a café in Spanish
Practise a short café order and ask for the bill. Learn to ask for a coffee, add por favor and gracias, and pay without switching back to English.
Spanish for beginners: guides and exercises
Start learning Spanish with seven free guides. Practise introductions, café orders, directions and more with explanations, exercises and answers.
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