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How to Say What Does This Mean in Spanish: Rapid Understanding Methods

Add "Disculpe" or "Perdón" in front, and swap "esto" for a specific noun ("esa palabra," "la señal") to sound more polite and clear.

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TL;DR

  • The standard phrase for "What does this mean?" in Spanish is "¿Qué significa esto?" - this is the go-to everywhere for words, signs, or symbols.
  • "¿Qué quiere decir esto?" is just as common. It literally means "What does this want to say?" but people use it the same way as "¿Qué significa esto?"
  • Spanish speakers separate "What's this called?" ("¿Qué es esto?") from "What does this mean?" ("¿Qué significa esto?") - mixing them up causes confusion.
  • Formality changes things: "¿A qué te refieres?" (informal) vs. "¿A qué se refiere?" (formal) when clarifying what someone meant.
  • Add "Disculpe" or "Perdón" in front, and swap "esto" for a specific noun ("esa palabra," "la señal") to sound more polite and clear.

A group of people learning Spanish together, pointing at a book with vocabulary and translation icons, with a world map in the background.

  • Rule: Use "¿Qué es esto?" for object names, "¿Qué significa esto?" for definitions.
  • Example: Pointing at a traffic sign, say "¿Qué significa esto?" not "¿Qué es esto?"

Essential Spanish Phrases for Asking 'What Does This Mean?'

Spanish gives you a few ways to ask what something means, depending on how close it is, if you just heard it, or if you're pointing at something. The basics: ¿Qué significa esto? and ¿Qué significa eso?. If you want to sound more conversational, try ¿Qué quiere decir eso?.

Core Translations: ¿Qué significa esto? and ¿Qué significa eso?

Spanish PhraseEnglish TranslationWhen to Use
¿Qué significa esto?What does this mean?Pointing at something close or just mentioned
¿Qué significa eso?What does that mean?Referring to something farther away or mentioned
¿Qué significa esta palabra?What does this word mean?Asking about a specific word
¿Qué significa esa frase?What does that phrase mean?Asking about a sentence or expression
  • significa = comes from significar (to mean)
  • qué = "what" (needs the accent in questions)
  • esto (this) and eso (that) change based on distance, not formality

Alternative Expressions: ¿Qué quiere decir eso? and Similar Questions

Spanish PhraseLiteral TranslationActual Meaning
¿Qué quiere decir eso?What does that want to say?What does that mean?
¿Qué quiere decir esto?What does this want to say?What does this mean?
¿Qué quiere decir?What does it want to say?What does it mean?
  • Use ¿Qué quiere decir? when it's clear what you're talking about.
  • significa and quiere decir are used pretty much the same way.
  • ¿Qué es eso? = "What is that?" (for naming, not meaning)

Rule → Example:

  • Rule: Use "¿Qué es eso?" for identification, "¿Qué significa eso?" for definitions.
  • Example: Pointing at a mango, say "¿Qué es eso?" (not "¿Qué significa eso?").

Contextual Differences: esto, eso, and ese Usage

FormTypeGenderExample
estoPronounNeutral¿Qué significa esto?
esoPronounNeutral¿Qué significa eso?
esteAdjectiveMasculine¿Qué significa este letrero?
eseAdjectiveMasculine¿Qué significa ese letrero?
estaAdjectiveFeminine¿Qué significa esta palabra?
esaAdjectiveFeminine¿Qué significa esa palabra?
  • esto/eso = pronouns, don't change for gender
  • este/ese/esta/esa = adjectives, match noun gender
  • ese alone sounds incomplete; pair it with a noun

Distance markers:

  • esto/este/esta = close (this)
  • eso/ese/esa = farther (that)
  • aquello/aquel/aquella = far from both (that over there)

Rule → Example:

  • Rule: Use "eso" for something just heard, "esto" for something you're holding.
  • Example: After hearing a new word, ask "¿Qué significa eso?"

Practical Strategies for Clarifying and Understanding in Conversations

How to Ask for Clarification Effectively

EnglishSpanish (Informal)Spanish (Formal)
What does this mean?¿Qué significa esto?¿Qué significa esto?
I don't understandNo entiendoNo comprendo
Can you repeat that?¿Puedes repetir?¿Puede repetir?
More slowly, pleaseMás despacio, por favorMás despacio, por favor
What does [word] mean?¿Qué significa [palabra]?¿Qué significa [palabra]?
  • ¿Qué significa esto? = good for most situations (text, objects, gestures)
  • ¿Cómo se dice eso en español? = asks how to say it, not what it means
  • No entiendo = general confusion, opens the door for rephrasing
  • ¿Puedes explicar? = asks for more detail or context

Rule → Example:

  • Rule: Memorize clarification phrases early and use them in real conversations.
  • Example: If you miss something, say "No entiendo, ¿puedes repetir?"

Leveraging Technology: SpanishDict, Language Apps, and Search

Tool TypeExamplesBest Use Case
Translation dictionarySpanishDict, WordReferenceFast definitions, example sentences
Language appsDuolingo, Babbel, Rosetta StonePracticing phrases with audio
Voice searchGoogle Translate voice inputHearing pronunciation
AI chat assistantsChatGPT, ClaudeGrammar help, usage questions

Using SpanishDict:

  • Type the word/phrase into search
  • Check example sentences
  • Listen to pronunciation
  • Look at forum for regional details

Rule → Example:

  • Rule: Combine apps with live practice for better retention.
  • Example: Look up "¿Qué significa eso?" on SpanishDict, then use it in conversation.

Adjusting for Formality, Audience, and Regional Nuance

ContextInformal (tú)Formal (usted)
Ask to repeat¿Puedes repetir?¿Puede repetir?
Request explanation¿Me explicas?¿Me puede explicar?
Seek meaning¿Qué quieres decir?¿Qué quiere decir?
RegionCommon Phrase or Pattern
Spain¿Cómo? (What?) for repetition
Mexico¿Mande? (polite "What?")
Argentina¿Qué querés decir? (uses "vos")
CaribbeanUse "Más despacio" due to fast speech
AudienceAdjustment Tips
ColleaguesStart with "usted" until told to use "tú"
Friends"¿Qué onda?" before clarifying is fine
EldersAlways "usted" + "por favor"
ProfessionalAvoid slang, use "¿Puede explicar eso?"

Rule → Example:

  • Rule: Confirm understanding by paraphrasing.
  • Example: "Entonces, ¿quieres decir que...?" (So, you mean that...?)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you ask for the meaning of a phrase in Spanish?

Spanish PhraseFormalityWhen to Use
¿Qué significa esta frase?NeutralWritten phrases, sentences, formal text
¿Qué quiere decir esta frase?NeutralEveryday speech, more conversational
¿Me puedes explicar esta expresión?InformalWhen you want more than a definition

Example exchanges:

  • Vi la expresión "estar en las nubes". ¿Qué significa esta frase?

    • I saw the expression "estar en las nubes". What does this phrase mean?

  • El texto dice "a fin de cuentas". ¿Qué quiere decir?

    • The text says "a fin de cuentas". What does that mean?

What is the translation for 'what does that mean' in Spanish?

Direct translations:

Rule → Example:

  • Use "eso" for something just mentioned or a bit removed in context.
    • Example: Someone says a new word. You ask, "¿Qué significa eso?"

Quick reference:

PhraseUse Case
¿Qué significa eso?Standard, neutral
¿Qué quiere decir eso?Conversational, also common

How to inquire about the meaning of slang terms in Spanish?

PhraseContextFormality
¿Qué significa [slang term]?For any slangNeutral
¿Cómo se usa [word]?Asking about usageInformal
¿Qué es "[slang]"?For unfamiliar slangInformal
No conozco esa palabra. ¿Qué quiere decir?Admit you don't know, then askInformal

Regional variation tip:

  • Add "aquí" or "en este país" for local meanings.

Regional slang examples:

  • ¿Qué significa "chido" aquí en México?
  • ¿Cómo se usa "che" en Argentina?
  • No entiendo "bacán". ¿Qué quiere decir en Chile?

What phrase would you use in Spanish to request a definition?

Formal request phrases:

  • ¿Me podría dar la definición de [word]?
  • ¿Cuál es la definición de [term]?
  • ¿Cómo se define [concept]?

Comparison: casual vs. formal

CasualFormal
¿Qué significa "sustentable"?¿Cuál es la definición de "sustentable"?
¿Qué quiere decir "paradigma"?¿Cómo se define "paradigma"?

How can you say 'what does it mean' in Spanish when asking for clarification?

Clarification phrases by situation:

SituationPhraseFormality
After vague statement¿A qué te refieres? / ¿A qué se refiere?Informal / Formal
Missing context¿Qué quieres decir con eso?Neutral
Contradictory statementNo entiendo. ¿Qué significa eso?Neutral
Professional¿Me podría aclarar ese punto?Formal

Clarification sequence:

  1. State confusion: "No entiendo" or "No me queda claro"
  2. Ask specific question: "¿A qué te refieres con [specific part]?"
  3. Confirm understanding: "Entonces, ¿significa que...?"