¿qué significa?
The English phrase "what does it mean?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué significa?
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 opening and closing question marks.
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? instead of the singular form.
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 verb significar comes from the Latin signum meaning 'sign' and facere meaning 'to make'. Literally, to mean something is to 'make a sign' of it.
- While English uses 'mean' for both definitions and intentions, Spanish speakers sometimes prefer the verb querer decir to ask 'what do you mean?' in a conversational context.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué significa la palabra 'altruismo'?What does the word 'altruism' mean?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
