Spanish for Intermediate Learners: Asking 'What Do You Mean?' to Clarify Meaning
Learn to ask clarifying questions in Latin American Spanish when you don't understand what someone means, using ¿Qué quieres decir con...? and related phrases.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you're talking with someone in Spanish, sometimes you understand the words but not the intended meaning. This lesson teaches you how to ask for clarification without switching to English. You'll learn phrases like ¿Qué quieres decir con...? (What do you mean by...?) and follow-up questions to get a clearer explanation. These tools help you stay in the conversation and keep learning.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to clarify what they mean using ¿Qué quieres decir con...?
- ask for a definition or example when a word or idea is unclear.
- use follow-up questions to check my understanding of the speaker's intent.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Qué quieres decir con...?
What do you mean by...?
keh KYEH-rehs deh-SEER kohn
Use this to ask for the meaning of a specific word or phrase. Follow with the word or idea: ¿Qué quieres decir con 'eso'?
No entiendo lo que quieres decir.
I don't understand what you mean.
noh ehn-TYEHN-doh loh keh KYEH-rehs deh-SEER
A direct way to say you don't grasp the intended meaning. Use it politely with a soft tone.
¿Puedes explicarlo de otra manera?
Can you explain it another way?
PWEH-dehs ehks-plee-KAHR-loh deh OH-trah mah-NEH-rah
Ask for a rephrasing when the first explanation didn't help.
¿A qué te refieres?
What do you mean? / What are you referring to?
ah keh teh reh-FYEH-rehs
A common follow-up when you need the speaker to specify what they're talking about.
¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo?
Can you give me an example?
meh PWEH-dehs dahr oon eh-HEHM-ploh
Useful when an abstract explanation is still unclear and you need something concrete.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is ¿Qué quieres decir con + [word/phrase]? This literally asks 'What do you want to say with...?' but functions as 'What do you mean by...?' For example, if someone says 'Es una situación complicada,' you can ask: ¿Qué quieres decir con 'complicada'? You can also use ¿A qué te refieres? as a standalone question when the topic itself is unclear. Note that quieres (tú form) is common in informal Latin American Spanish; in more formal contexts, use quiere (usted): ¿Qué quiere decir con...? A related impersonal form is ¿Qué quiere decir...? (without con), which asks what a word or expression means in general.
When to use it
Use these questions when you understand the individual words but not the speaker's intent, or when a word is new. For instance, if a friend says 'Ese comentario fue muy fuerte,' you might not know if 'fuerte' means 'harsh' or 'powerful.' Ask: ¿Qué quieres decir con 'fuerte'? If the explanation still doesn't help, follow up with ¿Puedes explicarlo de otra manera? or ¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo? Avoid using these phrases to confirm that you understood; they are for when you genuinely don't understand. To confirm understanding, you would say something like 'Entonces, ¿quieres decir que...?' but that is a different skill.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Oye, creo que el plan es un poco ambicioso.
Hey, I think the plan is a bit ambitious.OH-yeh, KREH-oh keh ehl plahn ehs oon POH-koh ahm-bee-SYOH-soh¿Qué quieres decir con 'ambicioso'?
What do you mean by 'ambitious'?keh KYEH-rehs deh-SEER kohn ahm-bee-SYOH-sohQuiero decir que tal vez es demasiado difícil para el tiempo que tenemos.
I mean that maybe it's too difficult for the time we have.KYEH-roh deh-SEER keh tahl BEHS ehs deh-mah-SYAH-doh dee-FEE-seel PAH-rah ehl TYEHM-poh keh teh-NEH-mohsAh, ya entiendo. ¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo de lo que sería más realista?
Ah, I understand now. Can you give me an example of what would be more realistic?ah, yah ehn-TYEHN-doh. meh PWEH-dehs dahr oon eh-HEHM-ploh deh loh keh seh-REE-ah mahs reh-ah-LEES-tahA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American contexts, directly saying 'No entiendo' can feel abrupt. Softening it with 'Perdón, no entiendo bien' or 'Disculpa, ¿puedes repetir?' is often more polite. The tú form is standard in informal conversation across much of Latin America, but in formal situations (with strangers, elders, or in professional settings), use usted: ¿Qué quiere decir con...? In some regions, like Argentina and Uruguay, vos is used instead of tú: ¿Qué querés decir con...? Be aware of these regional differences but don't worry about mastering them all at once.
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Qué significa...?' to ask what someone means in context. This asks for a dictionary definition, not the speaker's intended meaning.
Try this instead: Use '¿Qué quieres decir con...?' for intended meaning. For example, if someone says 'Eso es muy pesado' and you don't know if they mean 'heavy' or 'annoying,' ask: ¿Qué quieres decir con 'pesado'? Reserve ¿Qué significa 'pesado'? for asking what the word means in general.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask someone to clarify what they mean by the word 'raro'?
Show a sample answer
¿Qué quieres decir con 'raro'?
This directly asks for the intended meaning of 'raro' in context. You could also say ¿A qué te refieres con 'raro'? which is equally valid.
2What phrase would you use if you need a concrete example to understand?
Show a sample answer
¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo?
This asks for an example, which often clarifies abstract explanations. Another option is ¿Puedes darme un ejemplo? with the same meaning.
3If someone's explanation is still confusing, what can you ask?
Show a sample answer
¿Puedes explicarlo de otra manera?
This requests a rephrasing. You could also say ¿Puedes decirlo de otra forma? Both are appropriate.
When you don't understand the intended meaning, ask ¿Qué quieres decir con...? or ¿A qué te refieres? Then follow up with ¿Puedes explicarlo de otra manera? or ¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo? to get clarity. Use these to keep the conversation going in Spanish.
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