Spanish Phrase
¿Qué significan estas señales?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the meaning or purpose of a group of signs that are visible to the speaker. It is a direct, polite way to request clarification about road signs, informational placards, or any visual symbols.
When to use
Use this question when you encounter signs you don’t understand—at a train station, on a highway, in a museum, or even in a classroom. It works both in formal settings (talking to an official) and informal ones (asking a friend).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quésignificanestasseñales
Qué (interrogative)
The interrogative pronoun 'qué' (with accent) asks for information; it is used at the beginning of a question.
significan (verb)
Third‑person plural present of 'significar' (to mean). It agrees with the plural noun 'señales'.
estas (demonstrative adjective)
Plural feminine form of 'este', meaning 'these'. It must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
señales (noun)
Feminine plural noun meaning 'signs' or 'signals'. The ñ is essential for correct pronunciation.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué significan estas señales?
What do these signs mean?
Indican que el carril está reservado para autobuses y bicicletas.
They indicate that the lane is reserved for buses and bicycles.
✕Common Mistakes
Que significan estas señales?
Missing accent; 'Que' without accent is a conjunction, not a question word.
¿Qué significa estas señales?
Verb must agree with the plural noun; use 'significan' not 'significa'.
¿Qué significan esta señales?
Demonstrative must be plural to match 'señales'; use 'estas' not 'esta'.
¿Qué significan estas senales?
The ñ is required for correct spelling and pronunciation.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué indican estas señales?
What do these signs indicate?
¿Qué quieren decir estas señales?
What are these signs trying to say?
¿Cuál es el significado de estas señales?
What is the meaning of these signs?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, road and safety signs follow international symbols, but the wording can vary by region. When asking for clarification, keep a respectful tone; adding 'por favor' (please) makes the request even more courteous. Also, remember that the accent on 'qué' distinguishes the question from the conjunction 'que' (that).