🇪🇸 Spanish phrases

How to Say "What does this mean?" in Spanish

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
¿Qué significa esto?
"What does this mean?" in Spanish · say it like keh see-nee-fih-kah es-toh

The most natural way to say "What does this mean?" in Spanish is ¿Qué significa esto?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

¿Qué quiere decir esto?
Used interchangeably in casual conversations.
¿Qué significa eso?
Commonly used when referring to something further away.

When to use it

Use this phrase when you want to ask for clarification about something. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. You can use it when you don't understand a word, phrase, or concept.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What does this mean?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Spanish

SpanishEnglish
No entiendo la palabra, ¿qué significa esto?I don't understand the word, what does this mean?
Cuando escuché eso, me pregunté: ¿qué significa esto?When I heard that, I wondered: what does this mean?
Common mistake
A common mistake is to confuse 'esto' (this) with 'eso' (that) when referring to something nearby.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear ¿Qué significa esto?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Spanish with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this phrase in a formal setting?

Yes, it is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

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