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A big part of interpersonal communication in a new language is the ability to ask for clarification and meaning. A sympathetic conversation partner will be able to help you learn new vocabulary and avoid confusion by giving you additional explanations or examples. But first, you have to know how to ask for help with the meanings of new Spanish words and phrases.
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How do you say ‘What do you mean?’ in Spanish?
If you’re speaking to a friend casually, you can say ¿Qué quieres decir? (What do you mean?) in Spanish. If you’re using more formal language, knowing the difference between tú vs usted forms is important for being polite. You would say ¿Qué quiere decir usted? in formal language. Either option is the easiest way to ask “What do you mean?” in Spanish.
However, you can also ask ¿A qué te refieres? (What are you referring to?) or use a variety of other ways to clarify in Spanish. Pay attention to the nuance or underlying tone of some of the less literal usages of these questions in Spanish. For example, there could be a slight difference between phrases like “What do you mean?” and “What do you mean by that?” in Spanish.
| Spanish | English | Usage |
| ¿A qué te refieres? | What are you referring to? | get clarification (informal) |
| ¿A qué se refiere usted? | What are you referring to? | get clarification (formal) |
| ¿Cómo que …? | What do you mean…? | express concern/irritation/disbelief at what someone has just said |
| ¿De qué se trata? | What is this about? | ask about the subject of the conversation |
| ¿Me explico? | Does that make sense? Do you know what I mean? | see if the listener understands your meaning |
| No sé si me explico. | I’m not sure if I’m explaining it./ I’m not sure if you know what I mean? | see if the listener understands your meaning |
| ¿Podría explicarme en más detalle? | Could you explain it to me in more detail? | ask for further explanation (formal/polite) |
| ¿Podría explicarme qué quiere decir? | Could you explain to me what it means? | ask for definitions (formal/polite) |
| ¿Puedes explicarme más? | Can you explain it to me more? | ask for further explanation (informal) |
| ¿Qué dices?/¡Qué dices! | What are you saying?/What do you mean? | express surprise, disbelief, or disapproval (casual) |
| ¿Qué intentas decir? | What are you trying to say? | get clarification (informal) |
| ¿Qué quiere decir? | What do you mean? | get clarification (formal) ask about the meaning of a word |
| ¿Qué quieren decir? | What do you mean? | get clarification (talking to a group) |
| ¿Qué quieres decir? | What do you mean? | get clarification (informal) |
| ¿Qué quieres decir con eso? | What do you mean by that? | request underlying meaning or tone (informal) |
>>Here’s how to use the upside-down question mark in Spanish!
How do you say ‘What does that mean?’ in Spanish?
A helpful Spanish speaker can be an amazing resource when it comes to explaining the meanings of vocabulary, Spanish idioms, or expressions. Use these expressions to ask and answer “What does that mean?” in Spanish. Remember that qué (what) and other Spanish question words have an accent mark.
These expressions are also very useful while getting to know the signs and symbols in another country.
- Disculpe, ¿qué significa esta palabra? = Excuse me, what does this word mean?
- Significa “biblioteca.” = It means “library.”
- Disculpe, ¿qué significa esta señal? = Excuse me, what does this sign mean?
- Significa “farmacia.” = It means “pharmacy.”
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Qué quiere decir…? | What does … mean? |
| ¿Qué quiere decir esta expresión? | What does this expression mean? |
| ¿Qué quiere decir esta palabra? | What does this word mean? |
| ¿Qué significa eso? | What does that mean? |
| Quiere decir… | It means… |
| Significa que… | It means that… |
Lacking a helpful conversation partner, you can consult meanings of Spanish words in reputable sources like Spanishdictionary.com or consult one of Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors.
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