Spanish Phrase
¿Qué significa esta palabra?
Meaning
The sentence literally asks, “What does this word mean?” It is used when you encounter a word you don’t understand and want a definition or translation.
When to use
Use this phrase in classrooms, while reading, or in everyday conversation when you need clarification about a specific word. It works both in formal and informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quésignificaestapalabra?
¿Qué
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', always carries an accent on the 'e' in questions.
significa
Third‑person singular present of the verb 'significar' (to mean). Used to ask for the definition of something.
esta
Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this', agrees in gender and number with the noun that follows.
palabra
Feminine noun meaning 'word'.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué significa esta palabra?
What does this word mean?
Significa 'courage', como en 'tener coraje'.
It means 'courage', as in 'to have courage'.
✕Common Mistakes
Que significa esta palabra?
Missing accent changes the interrogative pronoun to the conjunction 'that'.
¿Qué significan estas palabras?
Do not use 'significa' with a plural noun; you would need 'significan'.
¿Qué significa la palabra?
If you want to refer to a specific word previously mentioned, you can use 'la' instead of 'esta'.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué quiere decir esta palabra?
What does this word want to say?
¿Cómo se traduce esta palabra?
How is this word translated?
¿Cuál es el significado de esta palabra?
What is the meaning of this word?
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, 'significar' is the most neutral verb for 'to mean'. In casual speech many native speakers prefer 'qué quiere decir' or simply 'qué significa' without the demonstrative. Also, remember to keep the accent on 'qué' in questions; dropping it changes the meaning to the conjunction 'que'.