When you're learning Portuguese, you'll hear and see the word quê a lot. It's a super versatile word, but at its core, it's used to ask for information about something. Think of it like the English 'what' or 'which'.
You'll often find it in questions like 'What is this?' or 'What do you want?'. It's a fundamental building block for asking questions and understanding responses in everyday conversations. Getting comfortable with quê will really help you open up your Portuguese communication.
When used as a pronoun, "quê" is generally interrogative, meaning it's used to ask questions. It directly translates to "what" in English.
It's important to differentiate it from the conjunction "que" (without the accent), which means "that" or "which" and introduces clauses. The accent mark on "quê" is crucial for identifying it as the interrogative pronoun.
You'll often find "quê" at the end of a question or after a preposition. For example, "Você está falando de quê?" translates to "What are you talking about?"
Mastering the distinction between "quê" and "que" will significantly improve your comprehension and fluency in Portuguese.
§ The Basics of "Quê"
Alright, let's talk about "quê." This is a small but mighty word in Portuguese. You'll hear it a lot, and it's super useful for asking questions. Think of it as a general question word, often meaning "what" or "which."
- DEFINITION
- "Quê" is a pronoun used to ask for information about something. It's like asking "what" or "which" in English, but it's more flexible and appears in many different sentence structures.
§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news
You're going to encounter "quê" everywhere. It's a fundamental part of daily conversation. Let's break down where you'll hear it in common situations.
§ In Everyday Conversations
This is where "quê" shines. Whether you're chatting with friends, talking to family, or just interacting with people, "quê" is essential for getting information.
O quê você está fazendo? (What are you doing?)
Para quê serve isso? (What is this for?)
De quê você está falando? (What are you talking about?)
§ At Work
In a professional setting, "quê" is crucial for clarifying tasks, understanding instructions, and generally making sure everyone is on the same page.
Em quê posso ajudar? (How can I help? / In what can I help?)
Quê é o prazo para este projeto? (What is the deadline for this project?)
Não entendi o quê você disse. (I didn't understand what you said.)
§ At School
Students and teachers use "quê" constantly. It's how you ask about homework, assignments, and concepts you don't understand.
Quê significa essa palavra? (What does this word mean?)
Para quê é o dever de casa? (What is the homework for?)
Não sei o quê fazer. (I don't know what to do.)
§ In the News and Media
When you're reading or watching the news, "quê" is often used to frame questions or to introduce clauses that explain something.
A pergunta é: quê vai acontecer agora? (The question is: what will happen now?)
O governo anunciou quê medidas serão tomadas. (The government announced what measures will be taken.)
Especialistas debatem sobre quê é o melhor caminho. (Experts debate about what is the best path.)
§ Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to get comfortable with "quê" is to listen for it and use it. Try to form simple questions using it throughout your day. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; that's how you learn!
- Ask your friends: "Quê você vai fazer hoje?" (What are you going to do today?)
- If you're unsure about something at work: "Quê preciso fazer com isso?" (What do I need to do with this?)
- In class, if you don't understand: "Quê significa...?" (What does... mean?)
Keep practicing, and you'll master "quê" in no time. It's a key building block for understanding and speaking Portuguese more fluently.
§ Mistakes people make with this word
The word "quê" is very common in Portuguese, but it's also a source of many errors for English speakers. Let's break down the most frequent mistakes so you can avoid them and sound more natural.
- Mistake 1
- Using "quê" instead of "o que" or "que" when it's not at the end of a question or an exclamation.
This is perhaps the most common error. Remember, "quê" with the circumflex accent is typically reserved for when it appears at the very end of a question, often standing alone, or as part of an exclamation. When asking "what" in the middle or beginning of a sentence, you'll generally use "o que" or just "que" (without the accent).
Errado: O quê você está fazendo? (What are you doing? - *Incorrect accent*)
Correto: O que você está fazendo? (What are you doing?)
Correto: Você está fazendo o quê? (What are you doing? - *"Quê" at the end*)
- Mistake 2
- Not using the circumflex accent when "quê" is functioning as a standalone pronoun at the end of a sentence or phrase.
Conversely, forgetting the accent when it IS needed can also lead to confusion. If you're asking "What?" as a short question or exclamation, or if it's the final word in a longer question and referring to an unspecified thing, the accent is crucial.
Errado: Ela disse que? (She said what? - *Missing accent*)
Correto: Ela disse quê? (She said what?)
Here's a breakdown to help you remember:
- Que (no accent): Usually a conjunction ("that," "which," "who"), or part of "o que"/"a que" when not at the end of a sentence.
- Quê (with accent): A pronoun meaning "what" or "something" when it's stressed and typically at the end of a phrase or used as a standalone interjection.
- Mistake 3
- Overusing "quê" as an interjection when a simpler "O quê?" or even just intonation would suffice.
While "quê?" can be used alone to express surprise or ask for repetition, sometimes learners use it too often. In many contexts, a simple "O quê?" or even just changing your intonation on the previous word can achieve the same effect more naturally.
Correto e comum: O quê? (What?)
Também comum: Você disse...? (You said...? - *Implying 'what?' with intonation*)
By understanding these common pitfalls, you'll be much better equipped to use "quê" correctly and confidently in your Portuguese conversations.
趣味小知识
This word has a fascinating journey through languages, showing up in various forms across the Romance language family.
难度评级
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前置知识
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高级
按水平分级的例句
O que é isto?
What is this?
O que você quer?
What do you want?
O que você faz?
What do you do?
O que ela disse?
What did she say?
O que eles comem?
What do they eat?
O que aconteceu?
What happened?
O que há de novo?
What's new?
O que vamos fazer?
What are we going to do?
O que é isso?
What is that?
Used to ask 'What is...?'
Você quer o quê?
You want what?
Often placed at the end of a question for emphasis or surprise.
Ele disse o quê?
He said what?
Similar to the above, for emphasis.
Para quê você precisa disso?
For what do you need this?
Used with prepositions like 'para' (for) or 'com' (with).
Com o quê você está trabalhando?
With what are you working?
Another example with a preposition.
O que fazes hoje?
What are you doing today?
Common informal way to ask 'What are you doing?'
Não sei o quê fazer.
I don't know what to do.
Used as a conjunction meaning 'what to do/say/etc.'
De quê você está falando?
About what are you talking?
Used with the preposition 'de' (of/about).
语法模式
习语与表达
"Não tem de quê."
You're welcome. (Literally: There's no why.)
Obrigado pela ajuda! — Não tem de quê.
neutral"Com certeza!"
Certainly! Of course!
Você pode me ajudar? — Com certeza!
neutral"De nada."
You're welcome. (Literally: Of nothing.)
Obrigado pelo café! — De nada.
neutral"Por quê?"
Why? (Used at the end of a sentence or by itself.)
Não posso ir. — Por quê?
neutral"Por que não?"
Why not?
Vamos comer fora? — Por que não?
neutral"É que..."
It's just that... (Used to introduce an explanation.)
Por que você está atrasado? — É que o trânsito estava horrível.
neutral"O que é isso?"
What is this?
Encontrei isso no chão. O que é isso?
neutral"O que aconteceu?"
What happened?
Você está com uma cara estranha. O que aconteceu?
neutral"A que horas?"
At what time?
A que horas começa o filme?
neutral"Quê? (expressão de surpresa)"
What? (An exclamation of surprise or disbelief.)
Ele ganhou na loteria! — Quê?!
informal句型
O quê?
A: Eu tenho uma notícia. B: O quê? (A: I have news. B: What?)
[Preposition] + quê?
De quê você está falando? (What are you talking about?)
Que + [noun]?
Que livro você quer? (Which book do you want?)
[Verb] + o quê?
Você quer comer o quê? (What do you want to eat?)
Para quê?
Para quê serve isso? (What is this for? / What purpose does this serve?)
Por quê?
Você não veio. Por quê? (You didn't come. Why?)
Não sei o quê fazer.
Estou perdido, não sei o quê fazer. (I'm lost, I don't know what to do.)
Ter + [noun] + para quê?
Ele tem dinheiro para quê? (What does he have money for?)
小贴士
Basic use of 'quê'
The most common use of 'quê' is as an interrogative pronoun, usually meaning what or which. It's often at the beginning of a question.
'Quê' with 'o'
When you want to ask 'What is...?', you'll often see 'O que é...?' (Brazil) or 'O que é que é...?' (Portugal). This literally translates to The what is...? but means What is it...?
'Quê' as an exclamation
You can use 'Quê!' on its own as an exclamation meaning What?! or Huh?! when you're surprised or didn't understand something.
'Quê' after prepositions
When 'quê' follows a preposition (like 'para', 'com', 'de'), it still means what. For example, 'Com quê?' means With what? or What with?
Accent mark on 'quê'
Notice the circumflex accent (^) on 'quê' when it's used as a pronoun and is stressed, especially at the end of a sentence or before punctuation. This distinguishes it from 'que' (without the accent), which has other uses.
Common phrases with 'quê'
Learn common phrases: 'Que horas são?' (What time is it?), 'O que você quer?' (What do you want?), 'De que cor é?' (What color is it?).
Don't confuse 'quê' and 'que'
Remember, 'quê' (with accent) is typically an interrogative pronoun. 'Que' (without accent) is often a relative pronoun (that, which) or a conjunction (that). It's a common source of confusion for learners.
Regional variations for 'what'
In some parts of Brazil, 'quê' can be used more informally to ask 'what' at the end of a sentence, like 'Você disse o quê?' (You said what?) This is less common in European Portuguese.
'Quê' in indirect questions
You'll also see 'quê' in indirect questions. For example, 'Eu quero saber o quê aconteceu.' (I want to know what happened.). Here it still functions to ask about something, but in a statement.
Practice asking questions
The best way to get comfortable with 'quê' is to practice forming questions. Ask your teacher or language exchange partner 'O que é isso?' (What is that?) or 'De que você está falando?' (What are you talking about?) often.
词源
From Latin 'quid'.
原始含义： What.
Indo-European, Romance.文化背景
The word "quê" is very versatile in Portuguese. It's used in many common expressions and can even change its meaning depending on the context and intonation, making it a key word to master for natural-sounding Portuguese. It's often used informally among friends and family.
在生活中练习
真实语境
Asking what something is or what someone wants.
- O que é isso? (What is that?)
- O que você quer? (What do you want?)
- Que horas são? (What time is it?)
Expressing surprise or disbelief.
- Quê?! Não acredito! (What?! I don't believe it!)
- Quê? Você está brincando! (What? You're kidding!)
- Quê? De novo? (What? Again?)
Asking for clarification when you didn't hear or understand something.
- Quê? Pode repetir? (What? Can you repeat?)
- Quê? Não entendi. (What? I didn't understand.)
- Quê? Mais devagar, por favor. (What? Slower, please.)
In informal questions about a situation or event.
- Que aconteceu? (What happened?)
- Que vamos fazer? (What are we going to do?)
- Que ele disse? (What did he say?)
When offering something and asking about preferences.
- Que tipo de música você gosta? (What kind of music do you like?)
- Que cor você prefere? (What color do you prefer?)
- Que filme você quer assistir? (What movie do you want to watch?)
对话开场白
"Use 'quê' to ask your friend what their favorite hobby is."
"You're in a store and hear something confusing. Ask the shop assistant 'Quê?' to get clarification."
"Someone tells you surprising news. React with 'Quê?' and ask for more details."
"You're trying to decide what to order at a restaurant. Ask your friend 'Que prato você recomenda?' (What dish do you recommend?)"
"Your phone rings unexpectedly. Answer with 'Alô, quê?' (Hello, what? - in a curious tone)."
日记主题
Write about a time you used 'quê' to ask for something you really wanted.
Describe a situation where you were so surprised you blurted out 'Quê?'
Think about a conversation where you had to ask 'Quê?' multiple times to understand someone. What made it difficult?
Imagine you are planning a trip. Write about all the things you would ask 'quê' about (e.g., 'Que roupas vou levar?', 'Que lugares vamos visitar?').
Reflect on the different tones you can use when saying 'quê' and how they change the meaning. Give examples.
自我测试 66 个问题
O que ___ isso?
Use 'é' for 'is' when asking what something is.
___ é o seu nome?
'Que' is used to ask 'What' in this context.
Você quer ___ para beber?
'Que' translates to 'what' here.
___ você faz no fim de semana?
To ask 'What do you do...', use 'Que'.
Eu não sei ___ fazer.
'Eu não sei que fazer' means 'I don't know what to do'.
___ horas são?
'Que horas são?' means 'What time is it?'.
Choose the correct question: She has what?
In Portuguese, 'quê' often comes at the end of a question when asking about 'what' regarding an object or situation.
Complete the sentence: Você quer ___?
'Quê' is used here to ask 'what' you want.
Which sentence means 'What is this?'
'O que é isto?' is the most common way to ask 'What is this?' in Portuguese.
The phrase 'O quê?' can be used by itself to ask 'What?'
Yes, 'O quê?' is a common and informal way to ask 'What?' or 'Pardon?'
In the sentence 'Você está fazendo quê?', 'quê' is asking for a person.
No, 'quê' in this context is asking about an action or thing, not a person. To ask about a person, you would use 'quem'.
The word 'quê' always comes at the beginning of a question.
No, 'quê' can also appear at the end of a question, especially when asking about something that is the object of a verb, like 'Você quer quê?' (What do you want?).
Someone is asking about an unknown object.
Someone is asking about the time.
Someone is asking about the current day.
Read this aloud:
O que você comeu?
Focus: quê
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Que cor é esta?
Focus: que cor
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Que tal um café?
Focus: que tal
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This means 'What is that?' in Portuguese. 'Que' starts the question, followed by the verb 'é' (is) and the pronoun 'isso' (that).
This translates to 'What do you eat?' The 'O que' phrase is common for 'what', followed by the subject 'você' and the verb 'come'.
This is how you ask 'What time is it?' in Portuguese. 'Que horas' means 'what hours' and 'são' is the verb 'are'.
Someone is asking what you are doing.
Someone is asking about the time.
Someone is asking about a book.
Read this aloud:
Que dia é hoje?
Focus: Que (keh)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Que bom te ver!
Focus: Que (keh)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Que cor você prefere?
Focus: Que (keh)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the best option to complete the sentence: 'Ele não sabe _____ fazer.'
In this context, 'quê' is used to ask 'what' to do, referring to an action or thing.
Which sentence correctly uses 'quê'?
'Quê' is often preceded by a preposition or used after the noun it refers to in questions. The other options show common errors when 'que' (without accent) or 'o que' should be used.
Fill in the blank: 'Não sei ______ aconteceu.'
When 'what' is the object of the verb or refers to an event, 'o quê' (or 'que' in some contexts, but 'o quê' is more emphatic here) is generally used. 'Quê' alone is typically used after a preposition or at the end of a sentence.
The sentence 'Você quer quê?' is a correct way to ask 'What do you want?'
'Você quer quê?' is a common and grammatically correct way to ask 'What do you want?' in informal Portuguese, with 'quê' coming at the end.
In the phrase 'Ele não sabe quê falar', 'quê' is correctly used to mean 'what to speak'.
When 'quê' is used after a verb like 'saber' (to know) and before an infinitive, it correctly asks 'what to [do]'.
The sentence 'Quê você vai fazer?' is grammatically correct.
While commonly heard in very informal speech, standard Portuguese would prefer 'O que você vai fazer?' or 'Que você vai fazer?' (without the accent on 'que' in this case). 'Quê' with the accent typically appears at the end of a phrase or after a preposition.
What are you going to do tomorrow?
She doesn't know what happened.
Tell me what you think about it.
Read this aloud:
O que eles estão assistindo?
Focus: O que
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Eu quero saber o que é isso.
Focus: quero saber
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Você não me disse o que queria.
Focus: disse o que
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Aquele restaurante é famoso, ___ você gostaria de pedir lá?
Here, 'o que' (what) is used to ask about the specific item the person would like to order from the famous restaurant. It's asking for information about 'something'.
Ela me perguntou ___ eu estava fazendo naquele momento.
'O que' (what) is used here to inquire about the action the person was performing at that specific moment.
Não entendi ___ você disse sobre o projeto.
In this sentence, 'o que' (what) refers to the specific information or statement made about the project that was not understood.
Para ___ você precisa dessa ferramenta?
'Para o que' (for what) is used to ask about the purpose or reason for needing the tool.
Gostaria de saber ___ aconteceu na reunião de ontem.
Here, 'o que' (what) is used to request information about the events or occurrences in yesterday's meeting.
Se você pudesse mudar uma coisa no mundo, ___ seria?
'O que' (what) asks for the specific 'thing' the person would change in the world, seeking a concrete piece of information.
Imagine you are planning a surprise party for a friend. Write a short email (3-4 sentences) to another friend, asking what they can contribute to the party. Use 'quê' at least once in your email.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Olá [Nome do Amigo], Estou organizando uma festa surpresa para o [Nome do Aniversariante] no próximo sábado. Gostaria de saber o que você pode trazer ou ajudar a organizar. Podemos nos encontrar para discutir os detalhes? Um abraço, [Seu Nome]
You're at a restaurant and the waiter tells you about the daily specials, but you didn't quite catch one of them. Write a short dialogue (2-3 exchanges) asking the waiter to repeat what the special was, using 'quê'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Cliente: Desculpe, o quê foi o prato especial que você mencionou? Garçom: Ah, sim! O especial de hoje é salmão grelhado com molho de maracujá. Cliente: Ah, entendi. Parece delicioso!
You are reading an article about a new scientific discovery, but a specific term is unclear to you. Write a social media post (2-3 sentences) asking for clarification from your followers, using 'quê'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Lendo um artigo fascinante sobre uma nova descoberta, mas estou confuso com um termo. Alguém sabe o quê significa 'criptoanálise quântica'? Agradeço a ajuda!
O que Carlos esqueceu?
Read this passage:
Em um dia ensolarado de verão, Ana e Carlos decidiram fazer um piquenique no parque. Ana preparou sanduíches e suco de laranja. Carlos, por sua vez, esqueceu o abridor de garrafas. 'O quê vamos fazer agora?', perguntou Ana, rindo. Carlos respondeu: 'Não se preocupe, tenho uma ideia!'.
O que Carlos esqueceu?
O texto afirma claramente que 'Carlos, por sua vez, esqueceu o abridor de garrafas.'
O texto afirma claramente que 'Carlos, por sua vez, esqueceu o abridor de garrafas.'
Qual era o sentimento de Maria quando ela perguntou 'O quê você quer?'
Read this passage:
Maria estava estudando para seu exame de história quando seu telefone tocou. Era sua irmã, perguntando sobre os planos para o fim de semana. Maria ficou um pouco irritada, pois estava muito concentrada. 'O quê você quer?', perguntou Maria, com um tom um pouco impaciente. Sua irmã rapidamente se desculpou.
Qual era o sentimento de Maria quando ela perguntou 'O quê você quer?'
O texto descreve que Maria estava 'um pouco irritada' e perguntou 'com um tom um pouco impaciente'.
O texto descreve que Maria estava 'um pouco irritada' e perguntou 'com um tom um pouco impaciente'.
Qual é a principal preocupação dos consumidores em relação ao novo produto?
Read this passage:
A empresa de tecnologia lançou um novo produto revolucionário, prometendo transformar a forma como as pessoas interagem com seus dispositivos. No entanto, o preço inicial é bastante elevado, gerando debates entre os consumidores. 'O quê justifica um preço tão alto?', questionou um usuário nas redes sociais. A empresa ainda não se pronunciou sobre as críticas.
Qual é a principal preocupação dos consumidores em relação ao novo produto?
O texto menciona que 'o preço inicial é bastante elevado, gerando debates' e um usuário questionou 'O quê justifica um preço tão alto?'.
O texto menciona que 'o preço inicial é bastante elevado, gerando debates' e um usuário questionou 'O quê justifica um preço tão alto?'.
Choose the most appropriate response to: 'Eu ouvi algo estranho. Você sabe ____ foi?'
In this context, 'o quê' is used to ask about an unspecified 'something' that was heard, functioning as a pronoun and specifying the object of the verb. 'Que' would be a conjunction or relative pronoun. 'Quem' refers to a person, and 'onde' refers to a place.
Complete the sentence: 'Não entendi ____ ele quis dizer com aquela piada.'
'O quê' is used here to refer to the content of 'aquela piada', acting as a direct object pronoun. 'Que' alone wouldn't fit the interrogative sense. 'Quem' is for people, and 'como' is for manner.
Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'Quando você diz 'isso não é verdade', a ____ você se refere?'
Here, 'a quê' is used to ask about the specific 'thing' or statement being referred to, acting as a pronoun after a preposition. 'Que' is often used after prepositions but 'a quê' is more specific when referring to an object or idea. 'Quem' refers to a person. 'A qual' would be used if there was a specific antecedent to refer back to, like 'a qual afirmação'.
The phrase 'Não sei o quê fazer' is grammatically correct when expressing uncertainty about an action.
'Não sei o quê fazer' is a common and correct construction in Portuguese to express 'I don't know what to do.' 'O quê' functions as a pronoun referring to the action.
In the sentence 'Quê? Você está brincando?', 'quê' is primarily functioning as an interrogative pronoun asking for information.
In 'Quê? Você está brincando?', 'quê' is used as an interjection to express surprise or disbelief, not primarily as an interrogative pronoun asking for specific information.
When 'quê' is preceded by an article (e.g., 'o quê'), it always refers to a specific, previously mentioned noun.
While 'o quê' can refer to something previously mentioned, it is also frequently used to refer to an unspecified 'something' or 'what' in a general sense, as in 'Não sei o quê pensar' (I don't know what to think). It doesn't always require a previously mentioned noun.
This sentence means 'We don't know what to do.' The 'o quê' functions as the object of the verb 'fazer' (to do), referring to 'what' action needs to be taken.
This translates to 'That's what I was thinking.' 'O quê' here acts as a relative pronoun, referring back to 'isso' (that) and introducing the clause 'eu estava pensando' (I was thinking).
This sentence means 'I would like to know what really happened.' 'O quê' is used here to introduce an indirect question, asking about the nature of the event.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of 'quê'
The most common use of 'quê' is as an interrogative pronoun, usually meaning what or which. It's often at the beginning of a question.
'Quê' with 'o'
When you want to ask 'What is...?', you'll often see 'O que é...?' (Brazil) or 'O que é que é...?' (Portugal). This literally translates to The what is...? but means What is it...?
'Quê' as an exclamation
You can use 'Quê!' on its own as an exclamation meaning What?! or Huh?! when you're surprised or didn't understand something.
'Quê' after prepositions
When 'quê' follows a preposition (like 'para', 'com', 'de'), it still means what. For example, 'Com quê?' means With what? or What with?
相关内容
这个词在其他语言中
更多communication词汇
a gente
A1We, us (informal, common in spoken Portuguese).
a menos que
A2Unless; if not.
a respeito de
A2With regard to; concerning.
aconselhar
A2To offer suggestions or recommendations.
Adeus
A1Goodbye; Bye
Adeus!
A2A farewell; goodbye.
agradecer
A1To express gratitude or thanks to someone.
aguardar
A1To wait for someone or something patiently.
anunciar
B1To announce; to make a public declaration.
aplaudir
A2To show approval by clapping hands.
