¿qué idioma?
/ˈke iˈdjoma/word by word
The phrase "what language?" in Spanish is translated as ¿qué idioma?
This phrase is used as a question to ask which specific language is being spoken or written.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (what) and idioma (language).
Which one should you use?
While idioma is the most common word for a spoken language, lengua can also be used, though lengua often carries a more technical or biological connotation (tongue) depending on context.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form a complete sentence like 'What language is this?', you add 'es este' to the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈke iˈdjoma/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, calling someone a lengua larga (long tongue) does not refer to their language skills but means they are a gossip who cannot keep a secret.
- The word idioma comes from the Greek word for a 'peculiarity' or 'private property'. It originally described a characteristic unique to a specific person or group rather than a system of communication.
- A speaker might use the phrase hablar en lenguas to refer to 'speaking in tongues'. This describes a specific religious experience of glossolalia rather than learning a foreign idioma.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (qué, idioma) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries idioma, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
