❓Question Vocab
In this section you will learn the most useful English question words and how to use them naturally in everyday conversations. Each English question word includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
🟢 Essential Question Words
❓ What?
asks for a thing, idea, or information
🇫🇷 French: Quoi ? / Que ?
🇩🇪 German: Was?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa? / Che?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O quê?Example: What do you want to eat?
asks for a thing, idea, or information
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué?🇫🇷 French: Quoi ? / Que ?
🇩🇪 German: Was?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa? / Che?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O quê?
👤 Who?
asks for a person
🇫🇷 French: Qui ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem?Example: Who called?
asks for a person
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién?🇫🇷 French: Qui ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem?
📍 Where?
asks for a place
🇫🇷 French: Où ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde?Example: Where do you work?
asks for a place
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde?🇫🇷 French: Où ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde?
⏰ When?
asks for a time or day
🇫🇷 French: Quand ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando?Example: When are you leaving?
asks for a time or day
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuándo?🇫🇷 French: Quand ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando?
🤔 Why?
asks for a reason
🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por quê?Example: Why are you smiling?
asks for a reason
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Por qué?🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por quê?
🛠️ How?
asks about the way something happens
🇫🇷 French: Comment ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como?Example: How was your day?
asks about the way something happens
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo?🇫🇷 French: Comment ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como?
🟡 More Useful Question Words
💰 How much?
asks about price or amount
🇫🇷 French: Combien ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie viel?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quanto?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quanto?Example: How much does it cost?
asks about price or amount
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuánto?🇫🇷 French: Combien ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie viel?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quanto?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quanto?
🔢 How many?
asks about the number of things or people
🇫🇷 French: Combien ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie viele?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quanti? / Quante?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quantos? / Quantas?Example: How many languages do you speak?
asks about the number of things or people
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuántos? / ¿Cuántas?🇫🇷 French: Combien ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie viele?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quanti? / Quante?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quantos? / Quantas?
📚 Which? / Which one?
asks you to choose from a small group
🇫🇷 French: Quel ? / Lequel ?
🇩🇪 German: Welcher? / Welche?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quale?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual?Example: Which one do you prefer?
asks you to choose from a small group
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál?🇫🇷 French: Quel ? / Lequel ?
🇩🇪 German: Welcher? / Welche?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quale?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual?
⭐ Useful Question Combinations
🌍 Where to?
where are you going?
🇫🇷 French: Où ?
🇩🇪 German: Wohin?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Para onde?Example: Where are you heading after this?
where are you going?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Adónde?🇫🇷 French: Où ?
🇩🇪 German: Wohin?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Para onde?
📍 Where from?
where did you come from?
🇫🇷 French: D’où ?
🇩🇪 German: Woher?
🇮🇹 Italian: Da dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: De onde?Example: Where did you just come from?
where did you come from?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿De dónde?🇫🇷 French: D’où ?
🇩🇪 German: Woher?
🇮🇹 Italian: Da dove?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: De onde?
⏰ What time?
asks for the clock time
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure ?
🇩🇪 German: Um wie viel Uhr?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas?Example: What time should we meet tomorrow?
asks for the clock time
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora?🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure ?
🇩🇪 German: Um wie viel Uhr?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas?
⏳ Until when?
until what time or day?
🇫🇷 French: Jusqu’à quand ?
🇩🇪 German: Bis wann?
🇮🇹 Italian: Fino a quando?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Até quando?Example: Until when will the store be open?
until what time or day?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Hasta cuándo?🇫🇷 French: Jusqu’à quand ?
🇩🇪 German: Bis wann?
🇮🇹 Italian: Fino a quando?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Até quando?
🤔 Why not?
a friendly way to say “yes, let’s do it”
🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi pas ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum nicht?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché no?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por que não?Example: Why not try something different tonight?
a friendly way to say “yes, let’s do it”
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Por qué no?🇫🇷 French: Pourquoi pas ?
🇩🇪 German: Warum nicht?
🇮🇹 Italian: Perché no?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por que não?
💡 Helpful Tip
In English, question words do not need special accent marks or inverted question marks.
We simply start the question with the question word and end with a regular question mark (?).
What? Who? Where? When? Why? How?
We simply start the question with the question word and end with a regular question mark (?).
What? Who? Where? When? Why? How?
💡 What? vs Which?
What? is used when there are many possible answers or when asking for information in general.
use this when the list of answers is open
🎬 What series are you watching these days?
use this when the list of answers is open
🎬 What series are you watching these days?
Which? is used when choosing between a limited number of options.
use this when there are only a few choices
📚 Which of these two books would you recommend?
use this when there are only a few choices
📚 Which of these two books would you recommend?
💬 Everyday Questions
☕ What would you recommend for someone who doesn’t like coffee?
what is a good drink if I do not want coffee?
🇫🇷 French: Que recommanderiez-vous à quelqu’un qui n’aime pas le café ?
🇩🇪 German: Was würden Sie jemandem empfehlen, der keinen Kaffee mag?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa consiglieresti a qualcuno a cui non piace il caffè?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você recomendaria para alguém que não gosta de café?
what is a good drink if I do not want coffee?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué me recomendarías para alguien que no le gusta el café?🇫🇷 French: Que recommanderiez-vous à quelqu’un qui n’aime pas le café ?
🇩🇪 German: Was würden Sie jemandem empfehlen, der keinen Kaffee mag?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa consiglieresti a qualcuno a cui non piace il caffè?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você recomendaria para alguém que não gosta de café?
🎬 What was the last movie that really surprised you?
what recent movie was a surprise for you?
🇫🇷 French: Quel a été le dernier film qui t’a vraiment surpris ?
🇩🇪 German: Was war der letzte Film, der dich wirklich überrascht hat?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è stato l’ultimo film che ti ha davvero sorpreso?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual foi o último filme que realmente te surpreendeu?
what recent movie was a surprise for you?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál fue la última película que realmente te sorprendió?🇫🇷 French: Quel a été le dernier film qui t’a vraiment surpris ?
🇩🇪 German: Was war der letzte Film, der dich wirklich überrascht hat?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è stato l’ultimo film che ti ha davvero sorpreso?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual foi o último filme que realmente te surpreendeu?
🎵 What kind of music helps you focus?
what music helps you work or study?
🇫🇷 French: Quel type de musique t’aide à te concentrer ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Art von Musik hilft dir, dich zu konzentrieren?
🇮🇹 Italian: Che tipo di musica ti aiuta a concentrarti?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que tipo de música te ajuda a focar?
what music helps you work or study?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué tipo de música te ayuda a concentrarte?🇫🇷 French: Quel type de musique t’aide à te concentrer ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Art von Musik hilft dir, dich zu konzentrieren?
🇮🇹 Italian: Che tipo di musica ti aiuta a concentrarti?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que tipo de música te ajuda a focar?
🌎 Where did you grow up?
where did you live as a child?
🇫🇷 French: Où as-tu grandi ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo bist du aufgewachsen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove sei cresciuto/a?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você cresceu?
where did you live as a child?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde creciste?🇫🇷 French: Où as-tu grandi ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo bist du aufgewachsen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove sei cresciuto/a?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você cresceu?
⏰ What time do you usually finish work?
at what time does your work day end?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure finis-tu généralement le travail ?
🇩🇪 German: Um wie viel Uhr hörst du normalerweise mit der Arbeit auf?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora finisci di solito di lavorare?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas você geralmente termina o trabalho?
at what time does your work day end?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora terminas normalmente de trabajar?🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure finis-tu généralement le travail ?
🇩🇪 German: Um wie viel Uhr hörst du normalerweise mit der Arbeit auf?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora finisci di solito di lavorare?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas você geralmente termina o trabalho?
💬 Sample Conversations
☕ At a café
a short talk in a coffee shop
A: What would you recommend if I don’t want anything too sweet?
B: Try the flat white - it’s smooth and not too strong.
🇪🇸 B: Prueba el flat white - es suave y no demasiado fuerte.
🇫🇷 A: Que recommanderiez-vous si je ne veux rien de trop sucré ?
🇫🇷 B: Essayez le flat white - il est doux et pas trop fort.
🇩🇪 A: Was würden Sie empfehlen, wenn ich nichts zu Süßes möchte?
🇩🇪 B: Probieren Sie den Flat White - er ist mild und nicht zu stark.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa mi consiglieresti se non voglio niente di troppo dolce?
🇮🇹 B: Prova il flat white - è delicato e non troppo forte.
🇵🇹 A: O que você recomendaria se eu não quiser nada muito doce?
🇵🇹 B: Experimente o flat white - é suave e não muito forte.
a short talk in a coffee shop
A: What would you recommend if I don’t want anything too sweet?
B: Try the flat white - it’s smooth and not too strong.
Show translations
🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué me recomendarías si no quiero nada demasiado dulce?🇪🇸 B: Prueba el flat white - es suave y no demasiado fuerte.
🇫🇷 A: Que recommanderiez-vous si je ne veux rien de trop sucré ?
🇫🇷 B: Essayez le flat white - il est doux et pas trop fort.
🇩🇪 A: Was würden Sie empfehlen, wenn ich nichts zu Süßes möchte?
🇩🇪 B: Probieren Sie den Flat White - er ist mild und nicht zu stark.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa mi consiglieresti se non voglio niente di troppo dolce?
🇮🇹 B: Prova il flat white - è delicato e non troppo forte.
🇵🇹 A: O que você recomendaria se eu não quiser nada muito doce?
🇵🇹 B: Experimente o flat white - é suave e não muito forte.
✈️ Planning a trip
talking about a future holiday
A: Where are you thinking of going this year?
B: I’m considering Portugal, but I haven’t decided yet.
🇪🇸 B: Estoy considerando Portugal, pero aún no he decidido.
🇫🇷 A: Où penses-tu aller cette année ?
🇫🇷 B: Je pense au Portugal, mais je n’ai pas encore décidé.
🇩🇪 A: Wohin denkst du dieses Jahr zu fahren?
🇩🇪 B: Ich überlege Portugal, aber ich habe mich noch nicht entschieden.
🇮🇹 A: Dove stai pensando di andare quest’anno?
🇮🇹 B: Sto considerando il Portogallo, ma non ho ancora deciso.
🇵🇹 A: Para onde você está pensando em ir este ano?
🇵🇹 B: Estou considerando Portugal, mas ainda não decidi.
talking about a future holiday
A: Where are you thinking of going this year?
B: I’m considering Portugal, but I haven’t decided yet.
Show translations
🇪🇸 A: ¿Adónde estás pensando ir este año?🇪🇸 B: Estoy considerando Portugal, pero aún no he decidido.
🇫🇷 A: Où penses-tu aller cette année ?
🇫🇷 B: Je pense au Portugal, mais je n’ai pas encore décidé.
🇩🇪 A: Wohin denkst du dieses Jahr zu fahren?
🇩🇪 B: Ich überlege Portugal, aber ich habe mich noch nicht entschieden.
🇮🇹 A: Dove stai pensando di andare quest’anno?
🇮🇹 B: Sto considerando il Portogallo, ma non ho ancora deciso.
🇵🇹 A: Para onde você está pensando em ir este ano?
🇵🇹 B: Estou considerando Portugal, mas ainda não decidi.
📝 More Practice
📷 Where did you take this photo? It looks amazing.
in what place did you take this picture?
🇫🇷 French: Où as-tu pris cette photo ? Elle est magnifique.
🇩🇪 German: Wo hast du dieses Foto gemacht? Es sieht fantastisch aus.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove hai scattato questa foto? È meravigliosa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você tirou esta foto? Está incrível.
in what place did you take this picture?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde tomaste esta foto? Se ve increíble.🇫🇷 French: Où as-tu pris cette photo ? Elle est magnifique.
🇩🇪 German: Wo hast du dieses Foto gemacht? Es sieht fantastisch aus.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove hai scattato questa foto? È meravigliosa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde você tirou esta foto? Está incrível.
🌅 What are you planning to do this weekend?
what will you do on Saturday and Sunday?
🇫🇷 French: Que prévois-tu de faire ce week-end ?
🇩🇪 German: Was hast du dieses Wochenende vor?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa hai in programma per questo fine settimana?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você está planejando fazer neste fim de semana?
what will you do on Saturday and Sunday?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué planes tienes para este fin de semana?🇫🇷 French: Que prévois-tu de faire ce week-end ?
🇩🇪 German: Was hast du dieses Wochenende vor?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa hai in programma per questo fine settimana?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você está planejando fazer neste fim de semana?
🎶 What song keeps getting stuck in your head lately?
what song do you keep thinking about?
🇫🇷 French: Quelle chanson te reste dans la tête en ce moment ?
🇩🇪 German: Welches Lied bleibt dir in letzter Zeit im Kopf stecken?
🇮🇹 Italian: Che canzone ti rimane in testa ultimamente?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que música fica presa na sua cabeça ultimamente?
what song do you keep thinking about?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué canción se te queda pegada en la cabeza últimamente?🇫🇷 French: Quelle chanson te reste dans la tête en ce moment ?
🇩🇪 German: Welches Lied bleibt dir in letzter Zeit im Kopf stecken?
🇮🇹 Italian: Che canzone ti rimane in testa ultimamente?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que música fica presa na sua cabeça ultimamente?
🏖️ When was the last time you completely unplugged for a few days?
when did you last rest with no phone or work?
🇫🇷 French: Quand as-tu déconnecté complètement pendant quelques jours pour la dernière fois ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann hast du dich das letzte Mal komplett für ein paar Tage abgeschaltet?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando è stata l’ultima volta che ti sei completamente disconnesso per qualche giorno?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando foi a última vez que você se desconectou completamente por alguns dias?
when did you last rest with no phone or work?
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que te desconectaste completamente durante unos días?🇫🇷 French: Quand as-tu déconnecté complètement pendant quelques jours pour la dernière fois ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann hast du dich das letzte Mal komplett für ein paar Tage abgeschaltet?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando è stata l’ultima volta che ti sei completamente disconnesso per qualche giorno?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando foi a última vez que você se desconectou completamente por alguns dias?
🏆 Final Practice
Try asking each question before pressing play.
- What do you want to eat?
- Where do you work?
- Where did you just come from?
- How much does it cost?
- Which of these two books would you recommend?
- What time should we meet tomorrow?