cuál

See also: cual and cuâl

Spanish

Alternative forms

Etymology

  • Etymology tree
    Proto-Indo-European *kʷ-
    Proto-Indo-European *kʷísder.
    Latin quālis
    Spanish cuál

    Inherited from Old Spanish qual, from Latin quālis (“which”).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈkwal/ [ˈkwal]
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -al
    • Syllabification: cuál

    Pronoun

    cuál m or f (masculine and feminine plural cuáles)

    1. what (in terms of a very specific item); which, which one
      ¿Cuál es tu dirección?
      What is your address?

    Determiner

    cuál m or f (masculine and feminine plural cuáles)

    1. (chiefly Latin America) what; which (interrogative only)
      Synonym: qué
      ¿Cuáles gatos adoptaste del refugio? ― Which cats did you adopt from the shelter?
      Tengo que ir al aeropuerto, y todavía no sé cuál camino escoger.
      I have to go to the airport, and I still don't know which way I should go.

    Usage notes

    • There are certain times where cuál would translate as "what" in English and qué would translate as "which". This can confuse English speakers. As a general rule, when using a form of the verb ser, then unless asking the definition or meaning of something, use cuál even when the English phrase uses "what":
      ¿Cuál es su nombre? ― What is your name?
      ¿Cuál es el problema aquí? ― What is the problem here?

    See also

    Further reading

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