The Meaning of Que: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of que? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word que, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word ‘que’ mean?

According to Spanish Dict, que and qué are both a Spanish word. Que means that, while qué means what. These are used very frequently in the Spanish language – as frequently as we use that or what in the English language. Unlike in most words in the English language, the accent mark on the e is very important. You might hear this in the Spanish phrase ”Que Dios te bendiga” which means “May God bless you.” 

According to Thought Co, the word que is also a reflexive pronoun in French. This word contracts to qu’ in front of a vowel and something the letter h, and has many different meanings just like its Spanish equivalent. This can be used as a comparative and superlative adverb similar to the English word than. It can be used as a conjunction to mean that. It can be used in conjunctive phrases to mean because. It can be used as an exclamative adverb to mean so. It can be used as an indefinite relative pronoun to mean what, in indirect commands to mean may, in an interrogative phrase to mean are, as an interrogative pronoun to mean what, as a negative adverb to mean only, or as a relative pronoun to mean that.

According to The Free Dictionary, QUE can also be used as an acronym or abbreviation for many different things. While this is less common than seeing que in Spanish or French, it still happens occasionally. If you do decide to use one of these various definition of que, make sure that you provide the reader or listener with the proper context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning. 

  •  Quantum Undetected Errordique‎
  •  Quake, the Universe and Everything (slang word)
  •  Quality in Undergraduate Education (national project; Georgia State University)
  •  Queue Object
  •  Voice Transmission (radiotelegraphy)
  •  Quetzaltenango (Guatemala territorial division)
  •  Quebec, Canada

How can the word que be used in a sentence?

The word que and qué can be used in many different ways in both Spanish and French sentences. Using words in a sentence is very helpful for memorizing their meaning, especially for these common words in different languages. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today in Spanish or French! Below are a couple of different examples of que and qué to get you started. 

SPANISH:

Thomas: ¿Qué hora es? Tengo que irme a las siete para asegurarme de llegar al lugar a las ocho.

Tony: Ahora son las ocho. ¿Tu reloj está roto?

Thomas: ¿De verdad? Oh no. Debería irme.

ENGLISH:

Thomas: What time is it? I have to leave by seven o’clock to make sure that I get to the venue by eight. 

Tony: It’s eight o’clock now. Is your watch broken?

Thomas: Truly? Oh no. I had better go.

FRENCH:

Marisa : Quelle est la vraie raison pour laquelle tu es arrivée si tard au concert hier soir ? J’étais debout, l’air si stupide, tout seul.

Thomas : Je n’avais pas réalisé que l’heure d’été avait commencé. Je suis vraiment désolé. J’ai essayé d’entrer mais ils avaient déjà verrouillé les portes. J’ai essayé de t’appeler.

Marisa : Je ne vais pas répondre à mon téléphone pendant un concert.

ENGLISH:

Marisa: What is the real reason why you were so late to the concert last night? I was standing around looking so stupid, all alone.

Thomas: I didn’t realize daylight savings time had started. I’m so sorry. I tried to get in but they had already locked the doors. I tried to call you.

Marisa: I’m not going to answer my phone during a concert.

What are common words in Spanish?

Que is a very common word in Spanish. Knowing this word will get you very far and is vital for learning the language. However, there are also many other different words in Spanish that you must know in order to become fluent in the language.These new words are also  a great place to start learning. These lists of essential words to know in Spanish is from Spanish For Your Job.

– este – this (m) [esta (f)]

 – cuando – when

 – sí – yes

 – ver – to see

 – nada – nothing, not at all

 – con – with

 – ni – not even, neither, nor

 – eso – that

 – o – or

 – cada – each, every

 – después – after

 – decir – to tell, say

 – ya – already, still

 – otro – other, another

 – cosa – thing

 – ahora – now

 – desde – from, since

 – mucho – much, many, a lot

 – sobre – on top of, over, about

 – vez – time (specific occurrence)

 – pasar – to pass, spend (time)

 – bien – well

 – hombre – man, mankind, husband

 – parte – part, portion

 – sin – without

 – dejar – to let, leave

 – uno – one

 – para – for, to, in order to

 – entre – between, among

 – no – no

 – grande – large, great, big

 – como – like, as

 – ir – to go

 – seguir – to follow, keep on

 – también – also

 – ese – that (m) [esa (f)]

 – si – if, whether

 – qué – what?, which?, how?

 – y – and

 – día – day

 – saber – to know (a fact), find out

 – muy – very, – really

 – creer – to believe, think

 – pero – but, yet, except

 – tan – such, as, too, so

 – hasta – until, up to, even

 – mismo – same

 – un – a, an

 – deber – should, ought to; to owe

 – nuevo – new

 –  el,la – the

 – vida – life

 – llegar – to arrive

 – poder – to be able to; can

 – así – like that

 – todo – all, every

 – a – to, at

 – parecer – to seem, look like

 – tener – to have

 – encontrar – to find

 – nuestro our

 – menos – less, fewer

 – dos – two

 – quedar – to remain, stay

 – alguno – some, someone

 – por – by, for, through

 – tiempo – time (general), weather

 – donde – where

 – que – that, which

 – dar – to give

 – en – in, – on

 – primero – first

 – entonces – so, then

 – ser – to be

 – poner – to put (on), get

 – tanto – so much, – so many

 – querer – to want, -ove

 – porque – because

 – de – of, from

 – llevar – to take, carry

 – estar – to be – (location)

 – siempre – always, forever

 – poco – little, few, a little bit

 – hablar – to speak, talk

 – más – more

 – haber – to have

 – hacer – to do, make

 – año – year

Overall, the word que means that in Spanish, and qué means what in the English translation. This is a word with various meanings in Spanish, French and English, from prepositions to adverbs to an adjective and more.

Sources:

  1. Uses, Meanings, and Examples of Que in French | Thought Co 
  2. QUE – What does QUE stand for? | The Free Dictionary 
  3. Que | Spanish to English Translation | Spanish Dict 
  4. The 100 Most Common Words in Spoken Spanish | Spanish for Your Job