qué más
/ke mas/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "what else" is qué más.
qué más is used when you want to ask for additional information or more items in a list. In an informal context, asking ¿Qué más? can serve as a way to ask what else is happening in someone's life.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal combination of qué (what) and más (more).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the expression ¿Qué más contás? is used to mean "what else is going on?" or "what else can you tell me?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, qué más is used to mean "what else" when asking for additional items or information.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke mas/
Did you know?
- The word más shares an ancestral root with the English word 'master', as both originate from the Latin 'magis' and 'magister' meaning 'more' or 'greater'.
- In certain Caribbean Spanish-speaking regions, ¿Qué más? can be used rhetorically. In these contexts, it does not actually seek an answer but expresses disbelief or frustration, much like the English 'What now?'
- Adding the conjunction y to create ¿Y qué más? can change the tone from a simple question to a sign of impatience. It often implies the speaker is waiting for a more interesting or juicy detail to be revealed.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué más hay ahí?What else is there?This example shows how to use qué más to ask what else is present in a location.Tatoeba #6618194 by UsuarioX, translation #3408801 by CK
- ¿Qué más dijo Tom?What else did Tom say?This example shows how to use qué más to ask for additional things someone said.Tatoeba #2001731 by marcelostockle, translation #1886750 by CK
- No sé qué más hacer.I don't know what else to do.This example shows how to use qué más when expressing uncertainty about what else can be done.Tatoeba #1352692 by Shishir, translation #1352696 by CK
- Buenos días, señor Martínez. ¿En qué más puedo ayudarle?Good morning, Mr. Martinez. What else can I help you with?
- Oye, ¿y además qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre?Hey, what else do you like to do in your free time?
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are making a grocery list in the kitchen.
- Daniel¿Qué más hay en la lista?What else is on the list?
- MaríaSolo nos falta comprar leche.We only need to buy milk.
- Daniel¿Y qué más quieres que compre?And what else do you want me to buy?
- MaríaNo, eso es todo, Daniel.No, that is all, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries más, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
