How do you say when in Spanish?

When in Spanish is cuando (without accent) for statements (cuando llego a casa, when I get home) and ¿cuándo? (with accent) for direct or indirect questions (¿Cuándo llegas?, when do you arrive?). The accent flips the grammatical role.

What's the difference between cuando and cuándo?

Cuando without an accent is a connector or conjunction (when I arrive, while I work). Cuándo with an accent is the question word (when?). The pronunciation is identical; the accent only matters in writing. Spanish marks all question words with accents (qué, quién, dónde, cómo).

When do I use the subjunctive after cuando?

Use the subjunctive after cuando when the event hasn't happened yet: te llamo cuando llegue (I'll call you when I arrive, future). For habits and completed past events, use the indicative: cuando llego, ceno (when I arrive, I have dinner, habitual).

How do I remember when to write cuándo with an accent?

If you'd answer with a specific time (a las cinco, mañana), it's the question form: cuándo. If it's a connector (when I arrive, every Friday), it's cuando. Hearing native speakers ask and answer time questions in Parrot's videos makes the pattern stick faster than memorizing the rule.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

When in Spanish: Cuando vs ¿Cuándo? and the Accent Mark That Changes Everything

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Cuando · adverb / conjunction · KWAHN-doh

When in Spanish is cuando (no accent) for statements (cuando llego a casa, when I get home) and ¿cuándo? (with accent and question marks) for direct or indirect questions (¿Cuándo llegas? When do you arrive?). Same word, accent decides the role.

Both versions are pronounced KWAHN-doh, two syllables, stress on KWAHN. The accent on cuándo is purely written; in speech, intonation tells you whether it's a question.

¿Cuándo llegas?

When are you arriving?

When in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for when, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
cuando	when	KWAHN-doh	Default, widely understood
¿cuándo?	when		with accent: when as a question
mientras	when		while (overlap meaning)
en cuanto	when		as soon as (slightly different)

How Native Speakers Use Cuando

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Direct question

¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?

When is your birthday?

Direct question. Cuándo carries the accent and the sentence has ¿...?

Statement: when something happens

Cuando llego a casa, ceno con mi familia.

When I get home, I have dinner with my family.

Cuando without accent is the everyday connector for habitual actions (with present indicative) or future events (with subjunctive: cuando llegue).

Indirect question

No sé cuándo va a llegar.

I don't know when he's going to arrive.

Even when the question isn't directly asked (no ¿...?), if the meaning is questioning, cuándo keeps the accent.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuando

Forgetting the accent in questions

Incorrect: ¿Cuando llegas?

Correct: ¿Cuándo llegas?

Question forms of when, where, what, who, why all need the written accent: cuándo, dónde, qué, quién, por qué. Without the accent, the sentence is grammatically weird, even if the meaning is clear from context.

Using indicative after cuando for future events

Incorrect: Te llamo cuando llego.

Correct: Te llamo cuando llegue.

When cuando refers to a future event, Spanish uses the subjunctive (cuando llegue, when I arrive) instead of the indicative (cuando llego, when I arrive [habitually]). For habits or completed actions, indicative is fine.

Lock in When Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Cuando used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cuando in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Cuándo llegas? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About When in Spanish

How do you say when in Spanish?: When in Spanish is cuando (without accent) for statements (cuando llego a casa, when I get home) and ¿cuándo? (with accent) for direct or indirect questions (¿Cuándo llegas?, when do you arrive?). The accent flips the grammatical role.
What's the difference between cuando and cuándo?: Cuando without an accent is a connector or conjunction (when I arrive, while I work). Cuándo with an accent is the question word (when?). The pronunciation is identical; the accent only matters in writing. Spanish marks all question words with accents (qué, quién, dónde, cómo).
When do I use the subjunctive after cuando?: Use the subjunctive after cuando when the event hasn't happened yet: te llamo cuando llegue (I'll call you when I arrive, future). For habits and completed past events, use the indicative: cuando llego, ceno (when I arrive, I have dinner, habitual).
How do I remember when to write cuándo with an accent?: If you'd answer with a specific time (a las cinco, mañana), it's the question form: cuándo. If it's a connector (when I arrive, every Friday), it's cuando. Hearing native speakers ask and answer time questions in Parrot's videos makes the pattern stick faster than memorizing the rule.