¿Qué significa?
The English phrase "what does it mean?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Qué significa?
The phrase ¿Qué significa? is a way to ask the meaning of something in Spanish. Other ways to ask for a meaning include ¿Cuál es el significado? (What is the meaning?), ¿Qué significa eso? (What does that mean?) and ¿Me podría decir qué significa? (Could you tell me what it means?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the interrogative pronoun qué (what), the third-person singular form of the verb significar (to mean) and the question marks.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people might use ¿Qué quiere decir? instead of ¿Qué significa?
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are asking about the meaning of multiple words or things, you must use the plural form ¿Qué significan? (What do they mean?).
Did you know?
- The word qué is a direct descendant of the Latin word quid, which is also the root of the English word 'quid' used as slang for a British pound.
- The phrase ¿Qué quiere decir? literally translates to 'What does it want to say?', treating the object or word as if it has its own will.
- In very formal or legal Spanish, the word significar can be used to mean 'to notify' or 'to communicate' an official decision.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué quiere decir 'chido'?What does 'chido' mean?
- ¿Me podría decir qué significa 'amistad'?Could you tell me what 'amistad' means?
- ¿Me puedes decir qué significa eso?Can you tell me what that means?
- ¿Qué significa la palabra 'altruismo'?What does the word 'altruism' mean?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
