Cuando estás en una fiesta
When you're at a party
Here cuando ties two moments together: one thing happens at the time of the other, so there's no accent.
From Cobra Kai · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "when" in Spanish
cuándo / cuando
question word: cuándoconjunction: cuandosame pronunciation
"When" in Spanish is cuándo in a question and cuando without the accent when it links two ideas. Both sound the same. ¿Cuándo sale el avión? asks for a time, and Cuando hay problemas, tengo que llamar says what happens at that time.
Hear "cuando" in real movie scenes
One statement, one question. Each video starts and stops on that line.
¿Cuándo es la próxima reunión?
When is the next meeting?
Even in a dim bar it's the same question as at the office, and as a real question it takes the accent: cuándo.
From The Blacklist · Spanish audio
Useful phrases with cuándo and cuando
Six short phrases. The accent shows up only in the questions.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuándo? | When? |
| ¿Desde cuándo? | Since when? |
| ¿Hasta cuándo? | Until when? How much longer? |
| ¿Para cuándo? | By when? For when? |
| de vez en cuando | from time to time |
| cuando quieras | whenever you want |
Tip: The accent stays in a hidden question too: No sé cuándo sale el tren means "I don't know when the train leaves".
Grammar: cuándo and cuando
Four points to get the accent and the verb right.
Accent for questions
¿Cuándo? asks about time. cuando joins two ideas. The difference shows up only in writing.Hidden questions keep it
No sé cuándo llega. I don't know when she's arriving. Dime cuándo. Tell me when.Verb right after it
In a question the verb follows cuándo and the subject comes later: ¿Cuándo sale el avión?Future plans
For something that hasn't happened yet, the verb after cuando is subjunctive: Cuando llegues, llámame. Call me when you arrive.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
¿Cuándo sale el avión?
When does the plane leave?
Cuando hay problemas, tengo que llamar.
When there's a problem, I have to call.
Bueno, ¿cuándo empieza mi iniciación?
So, when does my initiation start?
Cuando está abierto.
Whenever it's open.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗¿Cuando sale el avión?
✓¿Cuándo sale el avión?
A question needs the accent on cuándo.
✗Cuándo hay problemas, tengo que llamar.
✓Cuando hay problemas, tengo que llamar.
Nothing is being asked here, so the word has no accent.
✗Cuando llegas mañana, llámame.
✓Cuando llegues mañana, llámame.
For a future moment, the verb after cuando goes into the subjunctive.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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How to remember it
Cuándo has a d like date, and cuánto has a t like total. The d word asks about time, the t word about amount.
Questions about "when" in Spanish
How do you say when in Spanish?
¿Cuándo? in a question: ¿Cuándo es la reunión? When it links two ideas, write it without the accent: Cuando hay problemas, tengo que llamar.
What's the difference between cuando and cuándo?
They sound the same. Cuándo with an accent asks about time, also in indirect questions like No sé cuándo. Cuando without an accent connects two ideas.
How do you say "since when" in Spanish?
¿Desde cuándo? For "until when" or "how much longer", say ¿Hasta cuándo?
How do you say whenever in Spanish?
Cuando quieras means whenever you want. For things that happen every time, use siempre que: Siempre que llueve, me quedo en casa.
