Learn Spanish: Asking 'What Do You Mean by That?'
Learn to ask for clarification in Spanish when a statement is unclear, using phrases like '¿Qué quieres decir con eso?' and '¿A qué te refieres?'.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When you're learning Spanish, you'll often hear something you don't fully understand. Instead of nodding politely, you can ask for clarification. This lesson teaches you how to ask 'What do you mean by that?' and similar questions. You'll learn to focus on meaning, not opinion. These phrases are essential for real conversations and will help you keep up and respond appropriately.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to clarify what they mean in Spanish.
- use different phrases to ask for clarification depending on the situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Qué quieres decir con eso?
What do you mean by that?
keh KYEH-rehs deh-SEER kohn EH-soh
General and friendly; used when you didn't understand the meaning of a statement.
¿A qué te refieres?
What do you mean? / What are you referring to?
ah keh teh reh-FYEH-rehs
Common in Latin America; slightly more formal than '¿Qué quieres decir?'.
No entiendo. ¿Puedes explicar?
I don't understand. Can you explain?
noh ehn-TYEHN-doh, PWEH-dehs eks-plee-KAR
Polite way to ask for an explanation when something is unclear.
¿Cómo?
What? / Come again?
KOH-moh
Informal; used when you didn't hear or understand. Use with friends; can sound abrupt if used with strangers.
¿Qué significa eso?
What does that mean?
keh seeg-nee-FEE-kah EH-soh
Used when you don't know the meaning of a word or phrase.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask what someone means, use '¿Qué quieres decir con...?' (What do you mean by...?) or '¿A qué te refieres?' (What do you mean?). For example: '¿Qué quieres decir con "mañana"?' (What do you mean by 'tomorrow'?) or '¿A qué te refieres con eso?' (What do you mean by that?). These questions focus on the meaning of the words, not on the person's opinion.
When to use it
Use these phrases when someone says something you don't understand, or when a word or phrase is ambiguous. For example, if a friend says 'Nos vemos al rato' and you don't know how long 'al rato' is, ask '¿Qué quieres decir con "al rato"?' (What do you mean by 'in a while'?). If you simply didn't hear, say '¿Cómo?' or '¿Mande?' (Mexico).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Oye, ¿me prestas tu carro?
Hey, can you lend me your car?OH-yeh, meh PREHS-tahs too KAH-rroh¿Qué quieres decir con eso?
What do you mean by that?keh KYEH-rehs deh-SEER kohn EH-sohQue si puedo usarlo mañana.
That if I can use it tomorrow.keh see PWEH-doh oo-SAHR-loh mah-NYAH-nahAh, sí. ¿A qué hora?
Oh, yes. At what time?ah see, ah keh OH-rahA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, '¿Mande?' is a polite way to ask 'What did you say?' in Mexico, but it's not used in other countries. '¿Cómo?' can be informal and might sound rude if used with strangers; in those cases, use '¿Perdón?' or '¿Disculpe?' to ask someone to repeat. Also, '¿A qué te refieres?' is more formal than '¿Qué quieres decir con eso?'.
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Qué quieres decir?' to ask for an opinion, as in 'What do you mean about the movie?'
Try this instead: For opinions, use '¿Qué opinas de...?' or '¿Qué piensas de...?'. For example: '¿Qué opinas de la película?' (What do you think of the movie?). Use '¿Qué quieres decir con eso?' only when you don't understand the meaning of a statement.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'What do you mean by that?' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¿Qué quieres decir con eso?
This is the most common way. You can also say '¿A qué te refieres?' which is slightly more formal.
2What phrase would you use if you didn't hear what someone said?
Show a sample answer
¿Cómo?
This is informal and common among friends. In more formal situations, use '¿Perdón?' or '¿Disculpe?'.
3How do you ask 'What does that mean?' when you don't know a word?
Show a sample answer
¿Qué significa eso?
This asks for the definition of a word or phrase. You can also say '¿Qué quiere decir eso?'.
Use '¿Qué quieres decir con eso?' or '¿A qué te refieres?' to ask for clarification. Remember to use '¿Cómo?' only informally, and '¿Qué significa eso?' for word meanings.
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