Question Words

1. Qué?

   What?

   Usage

   The basic question word for "what", also used to ask someone to repeat

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative pronoun; the accented qué stands alone and is not the conjunction que

2. Ont?

   Where?

   Usage

   The basic word for asking about a place

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative adverb; put a verb after it, as in Ont es...? (where is...)

3. Quora?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative adverb; quant means "how much", so do not mix them up. It is not the French form quand

4. Qui?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative pronoun; qual is sometimes used too. Spelled like French qui

5. Perqué?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; it also works as "because"

   Grammar Note

   Built from per (for) + qué (what); the final -é needs its accent

6. Cossí?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about manner or state

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative adverb; also used in greetings such as Cossí anatz? (how are you)

7. Quantes?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a count; for a quantity or a price use Quant

   Grammar Note

   The masculine plural of quant is quantes, the feminine plural quantas. Composed

8. Quant còsta?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask a price; point at the item

   Grammar Note

   quant + 3rd singular còsta; the subject is dropped. "When" is quora, not quant

9. Qual?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Used to choose among several things

   Grammar Note

   Interrogative pronoun. Before a noun, "which" is quin (masculine) or quina (feminine)

10. Qu'es aquò?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Ask about an unknown object or dish while pointing

    Grammar Note

    qué elides to qu' before a vowel; es is the 3rd singular of èsser. Composed

11. Ont son los comuns?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Ask for the toilets in shops, stations and restaurants; comuns is normally plural

    Grammar Note

    ont + 3rd plural of èsser. The polite word comuns is fixed in the plural; avoid vulgar words. Composed

12. Quina ora es?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time; answers begin with Es... or Son...

    Grammar Note

    ora is feminine, hence quina. For "it is four o'clock" the plural son is used (Son quatre oras). Composed

13. L'avètz?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks in a shop whether an item is available

    Grammar Note

    The object pronoun lo elides to l' before a vowel; avètz is the 2nd plural of aver. Composed

14. Podètz?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Politely asks whether something is possible

    Grammar Note

    2nd plural of poder; it can stand alone as "can you?". Composed

15. Es gratuit?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Asks whether entry, water, Wi-Fi etc. are free of charge

    Grammar Note

    gratuit is an adjective; word order is the same as a statement and intonation makes it a question. Composed

16. Es permés?

    Is it allowed?

    Usage

    Asks whether something such as photography or entry is allowed

    Grammar Note

    permés is an adjective meaning "allowed". Composed

17. Es pas permés?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    To check whether something is forbidden

    Grammar Note

    The negative pas follows the verb es. Composed

18. Va plan?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    To check on someone who looks unwell

    Grammar Note

    Va plan (all is well) turned into a question by intonation; no subject. Composed

19. Es vertat?

    Really?

    Usage

    A reaction when you are surprised

    Grammar Note

    vertat is a feminine noun "truth"; literally "is it true?". Composed

20. Es segur?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    To ask for confirmation

    Grammar Note

    segur is an adjective "certain"; literally "is it certain?". Composed

21. De quin país sètz?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks which country someone comes from

    Grammar Note

    país is masculine, hence quin; sètz is the 2nd plural (polite) of èsser. Composed

22. Cossí vos apelatz?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    Asks someone's name; the answer begins M'apèli ...

    Grammar Note

    Reflexive verb apelar in the 2nd plural; literally "how do you call yourself". Composed

23. Quant avètz d'ans?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks someone's age; rather personal with strangers

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many years do you have"; d' is de before a vowel and ans is the plural of an

24. Podèm far una fotografia amassa?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    To ask a local or fellow traveller for a joint photo

    Grammar Note

    poder + infinitive; far una fotografia means "to take a photograph". Composed

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