cuál
/ˈkwal/
The English phrase "which one" is translated into Spanish as cuál.
cuál is a phrase used to ask for a specific choice from a limited set of options.
Which one should you use?
Use cuál instead of qué when you are asking to select one item from a group or when the question is followed by the verb ser (to be).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to hear the use of qué instead of cuál in many informal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkwal/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use qué when asking "which one is…" (for example, saying ¿Qué es tu color favorito?). You should use cuál instead for these selections.
Did you know?
- Spanish uses cuál in phrases where English uses 'what', such as when asking for a phone number or an address, because the speaker is selecting one specific identity from all possibilities.
- The word cuál is a close cousin to the English word 'quality'. Both derive from the Latin quālis, which originally asked about the nature or kind of something.
- The spelling of cuál requires an accent mark to distinguish it as an interrogative, whereas without the accent, it can function as a relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who'.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuál es el mío?Which one is mine?Tatoeba #659663 by Shishir, translation #1432893 by CM
- ¿Cuál es más caro?Which one is more expensive?Tatoeba #1205950 by cueyayotl, translation #1192246 by Talonmalon
- No sé cuál elegir.I don't know which one to choose.Tatoeba #1344491 by marcelostockle, translation #2478654 by Hybrid
- ¿Cuál de ellos prefieres?Which one do you prefer?
- ¿Cuál quieres?Which one do you want?
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are choosing a book at a shop.
- DanielHay muchos libros aquí.There are many books here.
- Lucía¿Cuál quieres leer tú, Daniel?Which one do you want to read, Daniel?
- DanielNo lo sé todavía.I don't know yet.
- LucíaMira este, es muy bueno.Look at this one, it is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cuál, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuál, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
