con qué frecuencia
/kon ke fɾekwenθja/from spelling rules
The English phrase "how often" is translated into Spanish as con qué frecuencia.
This phrase is a question used to ask about the number of times something happens within a period of time. You can also use the more specific phrase ¿Cuántas veces al mes…? to ask "How often per month…?" Common answers to these types of questions include todos los días (every day), todas las semanas (every week), todos los meses (every month) or todos los años (every year).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase con qué frecuencia translates literally to "with what frequency."
Which one should you use?
While con qué frecuencia is the standard way to ask "how often," the phrase cada cuánto is a conversational alternative.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Con qué frecuencia is a polite and more formal way to ask "How often…?" whereas cada cuánto is used in colloquial, casual spoken Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because con qué frecuencia is an interrogative phrase, it must be accompanied by both opening and closing question marks (¿…?) in written Spanish.
Did you know?
- If a Spanish speaker answers de vez en cuando to a question about frequency, they are saying they do it 'once in a while' rather than giving a specific number.
- In spoken Spanish, the formal con qué frecuencia is often replaced by ¿cada cuánto tiempo? to make the question sound more natural and less like a medical survey.
- The word frecuencia shares a common ancestor with the English word 'frequent', as both stem from the Latin 'frequentia'.
Examples in context
- ¿Con qué frecuencia bebes?How often do you drink?This sentence shows how to use con qué frecuencia to ask about drinking habits.Tatoeba #7546531 by arh, translation #4016120 by CK
- ¿Con qué frecuencia le ves?How often do you see him?This sentence shows how to use con qué frecuencia to ask about seeing someone.Tatoeba #1441520 by Shishir, translation #284994 by CK
- ¿Con qué frecuencia habláis?How often do you speak to each other?This sentence shows how to use con qué frecuencia to ask about people speaking to each other.Tatoeba #11835768 by Seael, translation #7132405 by CK
- ¿Con qué frecuencia visitan ustedes a sus familiares?How often do you visit your relatives?
- ¿Cuántas veces por semana toma usted clases de español?How often do you take Spanish classes per week?
- ¿Cuántas veces al mes viajan ustedes?How often do you travel per month?
- ¿Con qué frecuencia sales con tus amigos?How often do you go out with your friends?
- ¿Cada cuánto llamas a tus padres?How often do you call your parents?
- ¿Cuántas veces al mes sales con amigos? A menudo salgo con amigos.How often do you go out with friends per month? I often go out with friends.
- ¿Cuántas veces a la semana practicas deporte? Generalmente hago deporte dos veces a la semana.How often do you exercise per week? I usually exercise twice a week.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing their exercise routines.
- Daniel¿Con qué frecuencia haces ejercicio, Lucía?How often do you exercise, Lucía?
- LucíaVoy al parque tres veces por semana.I go to the park three times a week.
- DanielEso es muy saludable.That is very healthy.
- LucíaSí, trato de ser constante.Yes, I try to be consistent.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, frecuencia, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
