cuándo y dónde
/kwando i donde/from spelling rules
To say when and where in Spanish, use cuándo y dónde.
cuándo y dónde asks about or refers to the time and place of something.
What does it mean word for word?
cuándo means "when", y means "and" and dónde means "where".
How does it change in a sentence?
cuándo and dónde keep their accents in both direct and indirect questions.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA for cuándo is /kwando/ and for dónde it is /donde/. The y sounds like the ee in see.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not drop the accents when the words introduce a question.
Did you know?
- In spoken Spanish, if the word following y starts with the sound 'ee', the y changes to e to prevent a repetitive sound. For example, you would say cuándo e italo-americano instead of using y.
- The English word 'cue' is a distant relative of the Spanish word cuándo, as both traces back to the same Latin root, 'quando'.
- While dónde asks about a general location, Spanish speakers often use adónde when the 'where' implies movement toward a destination. Using dónde for a destination can sound static or unnatural to a native ear.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuándo y dónde recibiste el regalo?When and where did you receive the gift?¿Cuándo y dónde opens a direct question.Tatoeba #1503162 by marcelostockle, translation #66405 by orcrist
- No es claro cuándo y dónde nació ella.It is not clear when and where she was born.cuándo y dónde nació ella is an indirect question that still keeps the accents.Tatoeba #2839114 by marcelostockle, translation #307989 by CH
- ¿Les dijiste a todos cuándo y dónde será la siguiente reunión?Have you told everyone when and where the meeting will be?cuándo y dónde será uses the future será for "will be".Tatoeba #1286295 by marcelostockle, translation #953308 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing a party.
- Daniel¿Sabes cuándo y dónde es la fiesta?Do you know when and where the party is?
- LucíaNo estoy segura de cuándo y dónde será.I am not sure when and where it will be.
- DanielTe avisaré cuando sepa los detalles.I will let you know when I know the details.
- LucíaGracias, Daniel.Thanks, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuándo, dónde, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
