Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
What Do You Mean in Spanish: ¿Qué Quieres Decir?
¿Qué Quieres Decir? · phrase · keh kee-EH-rehs deh-SEER
The phrase 'what do you mean' translates most naturally to ¿Qué quieres decir? in Spanish, using the verb querer (to want) plus decir (to say). It is used to request clarification when you don't understand someone's intention or message.
Pronounce it keh kee-EH-rehs deh-SEER, with the stress on the second syllable of quieres and the last syllable of decir.
¿Qué quieres decir con eso?
What do you mean by that?
What Do You Mean in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for what do you mean, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué quieres decir? | what do you mean | keh kee-EH-rehs deh-SEER | Default, widely understood |
| ¿A qué te refieres? | what do you mean | more formal or clarifying tone | |
| ¿Qué significa? | what do you mean | when asking the meaning of something |
How Native Speakers Use ¿Qué Quieres Decir?
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Casual clarification
¿Qué quieres decir con eso? No te entiendo.
What do you mean by that? I don't understand you.
Asking a friend to explain a confusing remark.
Formal inquiry
¿A qué se refiere exactamente con esa propuesta?
What exactly do you mean by that proposal?
Requesting precision in a business meeting.
Understanding a word
¿Qué significa esa palabra? Nunca la había escuchado.
What does that word mean? I've never heard it before.
Asking about unfamiliar vocabulary during a conversation.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using ¿Qué Quieres Decir?
Literal translation error
Incorrect: ¿Qué haces tú mean?
Correct: ¿Qué quieres decir?
Mixing English and Spanish syntax does not work; 'mean' in this context translates as 'querer decir,' not a standalone verb.
Wrong verb form
Incorrect: ¿Qué quiere decir tú?
Correct: ¿Qué quieres decir tú?
The pronoun tú requires the second-person conjugation quieres, not the third-person quiere.
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Common Questions About What Do You Mean in Spanish
- How do you say 'what do you mean' in Spanish?
- The most common way is ¿Qué quieres decir?, which literally means 'what do you want to say?' and is used in everyday conversation to ask for clarification.
- What is the difference between '¿Qué quieres decir?' and '¿Qué significa?'
- ¿Qué quieres decir? asks what a person intends or means, while ¿Qué significa? asks about the definition or meaning of a word, phrase, or symbol.
- Can I use '¿A qué te refieres?' instead?
- ¿A qué te refieres? is a perfectly natural alternative that translates to 'what are you referring to?' and is slightly more formal in tone than ¿Qué quieres decir?