How to ask 'What is this?' in Spanish
To ask 'What is this?' in Spanish, say '¿Qué es esto?' for something close or '¿Qué es eso?' for something farther away, using rising intonation and pointing if needed. This phrase works in everyday situations when you want to identify an object or learn its name.
When to use each phrase
Use '¿Qué es esto?' when the object is near you or within arm's reach. Use '¿Qué es eso?' when the object is a bit farther away, perhaps across the room or outside. Both phrases follow the same pattern: ¿Qué + es + demonstrative pronoun (esto/eso). The intonation rises at the end to signal a question.
Pronunciation tips
Say 'keh es ehs-toh?' for 'esto' and 'keh es eh-soh?' for 'eso'. The '¿' and '?' marks indicate that the pitch should go up at the end. Practice by mimicking a native speaker or asking your Langel to repeat slowly.
Practice ideas
Point at everyday items around you and ask '¿Qué es esto?' or '¿Qué es eso?'. Try to vary the distance to switch between the two forms. Record yourself and compare the rhythm to a native speaker’s recording.
With a Langel
Langels es un compañero de conversación por voz: eliges una Langel y hablas con ella en voz alta, en tiempo real, sin cámara ni aula. Cada Langel tiene un dial de «Talk to me» a «Teach me» que se puede girar a mitad de conversación; se acuerda de lo que hablasteis la última vez; con unos minutos basta; los errores vuelven corregidos dentro de su respuesta; se le puede pedir que repita o explique en tu idioma; y se entra por invitación o pidiendo plaza.
You: ¿Qué es esto? (pointing at a cup) Langel: Eso es una taza. ¿Quieres saber más sobre ella? You: ¿Cómo se dice "cup" en español? Langel: Se dice "taza". ¿Quieres practicar otra frase?
What about 'aquello' for things far away?
Spanish has a third demonstrative, 'aquello', for objects far from both the speaker and the listener — like a building across the street or a star in the sky. You ask '¿Qué es aquello?' with the same rising intonation. In everyday conversation, 'eso' often covers both middle and far distances, so 'aquello' is less common. But if you want to be precise about something really far away, 'aquello' is the word. Practice by pointing at distant objects and asking your Langel '¿Qué es aquello?' to get used to the three-way distinction.
Frequently asked questions
¿Puedo usar "¿Qué es eso?" para algo que está en mi mano?
No, para algo que está en tu mano o muy cerca es más natural decir "¿Qué es esto?". "Eso" implica cierta distancia.
¿Necesito siempre señalar con el dedo al preguntar?
No es obligatorio, pero señalar ayuda a aclarar a qué te refieres, especialmente en entornos ruidosos o con varios objetos cercanos.
¿Hay alguna diferencia de formalidad entre las dos formas?
Ambas tienen el mismo nivel de formalidad; la elección depende solo de la distancia física del objeto al que te refieres.
Can I use '¿Qué es eso?' for something in my hand?
No, for something in your hand or very close, use '¿Qué es esto?'. 'Eso' implies some distance between you and the object.
Do I always need to point when asking?
Pointing isn't required but helps clarify which object you mean, especially in noisy settings or with multiple items nearby.
Is there a formal or informal difference between the two?
Both have the same level of formality; the choice depends only on the physical distance of the object you're referring to.
What about '¿Qué es aquello?' for things far from both of us?
'Aquello' is used for objects far from both speaker and listener, like something across the street. It's less common in everyday conversation but useful to know for precision.
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