Understanding how to translate “for what” into Spanish is crucial for forming questions and expressing purpose or reason. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the various ways to say “for what” in Spanish, covering different contexts, grammatical structures, and usage rules.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently and accurately express yourself in Spanish.
This article is designed for Spanish language learners of all levels, from beginners who are just starting to grasp basic sentence structures to advanced students looking to refine their understanding of nuanced expressions. Native English speakers will find this particularly helpful as it highlights the differences in expressing purpose and reason between the two languages.
By mastering the concepts presented here, you’ll significantly enhance your ability to ask questions, seek explanations, and engage in meaningful conversations in Spanish.
Table of Contents
- Definition of “For What” in Spanish
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of “For What” in Spanish
The English phrase “for what” can be translated into Spanish in several ways, depending on the context and the intended meaning. The most common translations are ¿Para qué? and ¿Por qué?, but ¿A qué? can also be used in specific situations. Each of these phrases carries a slightly different nuance and is used in distinct contexts.
¿Para qué? is used to ask about the purpose or intention of something. It’s equivalent to asking “what for?” or “for what purpose?” in English. This phrase seeks to understand the reason behind an action or the goal that someone is trying to achieve. It’s often used when inquiring about the utility or the benefit of something.
¿Por qué? is used to ask about the cause or reason for something. It’s equivalent to asking “why?” in English. This phrase seeks to understand the underlying reason or explanation for an event, situation, or action. It’s a more general question than ¿Para qué?, as it doesn’t necessarily focus on the purpose or intention behind something.
¿A qué? is used in more specific contexts, often related to professions or activities. It can be translated as “what for?” but specifically in the sense of “what do you do for a living?” or “what activity are you dedicating yourself to?”. This usage is less common than ¿Para qué? and ¿Por qué? but important to understand for specific scenarios.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of these phrases is relatively simple. They all begin with an interrogative word (para, por, or a) followed by qué, which means “what.” The question mark (¿?) is essential in Spanish to indicate that it is an interrogative sentence. It’s important to use both the opening (¿) and closing (?) question marks.
The position of these phrases in a sentence is typically at the beginning, but they can also appear at the end or in the middle, although this is less common. When used at the beginning, the subject and verb usually follow.
When used at the end, the subject and verb usually precede the phrase.
Here’s a breakdown of the structure:
- ¿Para qué?: Para (for) + qué (what)
- ¿Por qué?: Por (because of/why) + qué (what)
- ¿A qué?: A (to/at) + qué (what)
These phrases can be followed by a verb or a complete clause to form a more complex question. For example:
- ¿Para qué estudias español? (What do you study Spanish for?)
- ¿Por qué estás triste? (Why are you sad?)
- ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?)
Types and Categories
¿Para qué?
¿Para qué? is used to inquire about the purpose or intention behind an action. It seeks to understand the reason or goal that someone is trying to achieve. This phrase is often used when asking about the utility or benefit of something. It corresponds to the English phrases “what for?” or “for what purpose?”.
Consider the following example: ¿Para qué necesitas el coche? (What do you need the car for?). This question is asking about the intended use of the car. The answer might be something like: Para ir al supermercado (To go to the supermarket).
¿Por qué?
¿Por qué? is used to inquire about the cause or reason for something. It is equivalent to the English word “why?”. This phrase seeks to understand the underlying explanation for an event, situation, or action. It’s a more general question than ¿Para qué?, as it doesn’t necessarily focus on the purpose or intention behind something. Note that the answer to a ¿Por qué? question often begins with porque (because), written as one word.
For example: ¿Por qué llegaste tarde? (Why did you arrive late?). This question is asking for the reason behind the person’s tardiness. The answer might be something like: Porque había mucho tráfico (Because there was a lot of traffic).
¿A qué?
¿A qué? is used in specific contexts, often related to professions or activities. It can be translated as “what for?” but specifically in the sense of “what do you do for a living?” or “what activity are you dedicating yourself to?”. This usage is less common than ¿Para qué? and ¿Por qué? but important to understand for specific scenarios. It’s often followed by a verb of dedication or profession.
For example: ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?). This question is asking about the person’s profession or main activity. The answer might be something like: Soy profesor (I am a teacher).
Examples
Here are some examples illustrating the use of ¿Para qué?, ¿Por qué? and ¿A qué? in various contexts. These examples will help you understand the nuances of each phrase and how to use them correctly.
¿Para qué? Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use ¿Para qué? in different contexts. Each example includes the Spanish question, its English translation, and a possible answer.
| Spanish Question | English Translation | Possible Answer |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Para qué necesitas el libro? | What do you need the book for? | Para estudiar para el examen. (To study for the exam.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres ir a España? | What do you want to go to Spain for? | Para aprender español y conocer la cultura. (To learn Spanish and experience the culture.) |
| ¿Para qué compraste esta máquina? | What did you buy this machine for? | Para hacer café más rápido. (To make coffee faster.) |
| ¿Para qué estás ahorrando dinero? | What are you saving money for? | Para comprar una casa. (To buy a house.) |
| ¿Para qué usas esta aplicación? | What do you use this app for? | Para aprender idiomas. (To learn languages.) |
| ¿Para qué cocinas tanto? | What are you cooking so much for? | Para la fiesta de mañana. (For tomorrow’s party.) |
| ¿Para qué llevas ese abrigo? | What are you wearing that coat for? | Porque hace frío afuera. (Because it’s cold outside.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres mi opinión? | What do you want my opinion for? | Porque confío en tu criterio. (Because I trust your judgment.) |
| ¿Para qué viniste a la reunión? | What did you come to the meeting for? | Para informarme sobre el proyecto. (To get informed about the project.) |
| ¿Para qué necesitas mi ayuda? | What do you need my help for? | Para resolver este problema. (To solve this problem.) |
| ¿Para qué entrenas tan duro? | What are you training so hard for? | Para la competencia del próximo mes. (For next month’s competition.) |
| ¿Para qué estudias medicina? | What are you studying medicine for? | Para ayudar a la gente. (To help people.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres aprender a bailar? | What do you want to learn to dance for? | Para divertirme en las fiestas. (To have fun at parties.) |
| ¿Para qué estás leyendo este libro? | What are you reading this book for? | Para mejorar mi español. (To improve my Spanish.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres un coche nuevo? | What do you want a new car for? | Para viajar con mi familia. (To travel with my family.) |
| ¿Para qué estás aprendiendo a programar? | What are you learning to program for? | Para conseguir un mejor trabajo. (To get a better job.) |
| ¿Para qué necesitas mi número de teléfono? | What do you need my phone number for? | Para que podamos mantenernos en contacto. (So we can stay in touch.) |
| ¿Para qué vas al gimnasio? | What do you go to the gym for? | Para mantenerme en forma. (To stay in shape.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres saber eso? | What do you want to know that for? | Por curiosidad. (Out of curiosity.) |
| ¿Para qué me preguntas eso? | What are you asking me that for? | Porque pensé que sabrías la respuesta. (Because I thought you would know the answer.) |
| ¿Para qué sirve esta herramienta? | What is this tool for? | Para cortar madera. (To cut wood.) |
| ¿Para qué es esta fiesta? | What is this party for? | Para celebrar mi cumpleaños. (To celebrate my birthday.) |
| ¿Para qué necesitas tanto azúcar? | What do you need so much sugar for? | Para hacer un pastel grande. (To make a big cake.) |
| ¿Para qué quieres ir a ese restaurante? | What do you want to go to that restaurant for? | Porque dicen que tienen la mejor comida italiana. (Because they say they have the best Italian food.) |
¿Por qué? Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use ¿Por qué? in different contexts. Each example includes the Spanish question, its English translation, and a possible answer.
| Spanish Question | English Translation | Possible Answer |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Por qué estás triste? | Why are you sad? | Porque perdí mi trabajo. (Because I lost my job.) |
| ¿Por qué llegaste tarde? | Why did you arrive late? | Porque había mucho tráfico. (Because there was a lot of traffic.) |
| ¿Por qué no quieres ir al cine? | Why don’t you want to go to the cinema? | Porque estoy cansado. (Because I am tired.) |
| ¿Por qué estudias español? | Why do you study Spanish? | Porque me gusta la cultura española. (Because I like the Spanish culture.) |
| ¿Por qué compraste este coche? | Why did you buy this car? | Porque necesitaba un coche nuevo. (Because I needed a new car.) |
| ¿Por qué estás enojado? | Why are you angry? | Porque me mintieron. (Because they lied to me.) |
| ¿Por qué no viniste a la fiesta? | Why didn’t you come to the party? | Porque estaba enfermo. (Because I was sick.) |
| ¿Por qué estás llorando? | Why are you crying? | Porque estoy feliz. (Because I am happy.) |
| ¿Por qué estás tan callado? | Why are you so quiet? | Porque estoy pensando. (Because I am thinking.) |
| ¿Por qué quieres viajar a Europa? | Why do you want to travel to Europe? | Porque quiero conocer diferentes culturas. (Because I want to experience different cultures.) |
| ¿Por qué no me llamaste? | Why didn’t you call me? | Porque no tenía tu número. (Because I didn’t have your number.) |
| ¿Por qué estás estudiando tanto? | Why are you studying so much? | Porque quiero sacar buenas notas. (Because I want to get good grades.) |
| ¿Por qué compraste esta casa? | Why did you buy this house? | Porque me gustó mucho. (Because I liked it a lot.) |
| ¿Por qué estás trabajando tan duro? | Why are you working so hard? | Porque quiero ascender en mi trabajo. (Because I want to get promoted at work.) |
| ¿Por qué no quieres comer? | Why don’t you want to eat? | Porque no tengo hambre. (Because I am not hungry.) |
| ¿Por qué estás aprendiendo a cocinar? | Why are you learning to cook? | Porque quiero sorprender a mi familia. (Because I want to surprise my family.) |
| ¿Por qué necesitas mi ayuda? | Why do you need my help? | Porque no puedo resolver este problema solo. (Because I can’t solve this problem alone.) |
| ¿Por qué estás leyendo este libro? | Why are you reading this book? | Porque es muy interesante. (Because it is very interesting.) |
| ¿Por qué quieres un coche nuevo? | Why do you want a new car? | Porque el mío ya es muy viejo. (Because mine is very old.) |
| ¿Por qué estás aprendiendo a programar? | Why are you learning to program? | Porque quiero crear mis propias aplicaciones. (Because I want to create my own apps.) |
| ¿Por qué necesitas mi número de teléfono? | Why do you need my phone number? | Porque quiero invitarte a salir. (Because I want to invite you out.) |
| ¿Por qué vas al gimnasio? | Why do you go to the gym? | Porque quiero estar saludable. (Because I want to be healthy.) |
| ¿Por qué quieres saber eso? | Why do you want to know that? | Porque es importante para mí. (Because it is important to me.) |
| ¿Por qué me preguntas eso? | Why are you asking me that? | Porque eres la persona más indicada para responder. (Because you are the most suitable person to answer.) |
¿A qué? Examples
The following table provides examples of how to use ¿A qué? in different contexts. Each example includes the Spanish question, its English translation, and a possible answer.
| Spanish Question | English Translation | Possible Answer |
|---|---|---|
| ¿A qué te dedicas? | What do you do for a living? | Soy médico. (I am a doctor.) |
| ¿A qué se dedica tu padre? | What does your father do for a living? | Él es ingeniero. (He is an engineer.) |
| ¿A qué aspiras en la vida? | What do you aspire to in life? | A ser feliz y tener una familia. (To be happy and have a family.) |
| ¿A qué juega tu hijo? | What does your son play? | Juega al fútbol. (He plays soccer.) |
| ¿A qué hora llegas? | At what time are you arriving? | Llego a las ocho. (I arrive at eight.) |
| ¿A qué sabe esta comida? | What does this food taste like? | Sabe a pollo. (It tastes like chicken.) |
| ¿A qué huele? | What does it smell like? | Huele a rosas. (It smells like roses.) |
| ¿A qué distancia está la playa? | How far is the beach? | Está a cinco kilómetros. (It’s five kilometers away.) |
| ¿A qué nivel estás estudiando español? | At what level are you studying Spanish? | Estoy en nivel intermedio. (I am at an intermediate level.) |
| ¿A qué universidad fuiste? | Which university did you go to? | Fui a la Universidad de Madrid. (I went to the University of Madrid.) |
| ¿A qué te refieres con eso? | What do you mean by that? | Quiero decir que es importante ser puntual. (I mean that it is important to be punctual.) |
| ¿A qué precio vendes estos zapatos? | At what price are you selling these shoes? | Los vendo a cincuenta euros. (I sell them for fifty euros.) |
| ¿A qué edad te jubilaste? | At what age did you retire? | Me jubilé a los sesenta y cinco años. (I retired at sixty-five years old.) |
| ¿A qué equipo de fútbol apoyas? | Which football team do you support? | Apoyo al Real Madrid. (I support Real Madrid.) |
| ¿A qué hora empieza la película? | What time does the movie start? | Empieza a las nueve de la noche. (It starts at nine in the evening.) |
| ¿A qué sabe este vino? | What does this wine taste like? | Sabe a frutas rojas. (It tastes like red fruits.) |
| ¿A qué se debe tu visita? | What is the reason for your visit? | Vengo a hablar sobre el contrato. (I come to talk about the contract.) |
| ¿A qué te enfrentas en tu trabajo? | What do you face in your job? | Me enfrento a muchos desafíos cada día. (I face many challenges every day.) |
| ¿A qué dedicas tu tiempo libre? | What do you dedicate your free time to? | Lo dedico a leer y hacer deporte. (I dedicate it to reading and playing sports.) |
| ¿A qué atribuyes tu éxito? | What do you attribute your success to? | Lo atribuyo a mi esfuerzo y dedicación. (I attribute it to my effort and dedication.) |
Usage Rules
Understanding the usage rules for ¿Para qué?, ¿Por qué?, and ¿A qué? is essential for accurate communication in Spanish. These rules govern when to use each phrase and how to structure sentences correctly.
¿Para qué? is used specifically to ask about the purpose or intention behind an action. It should be used when you want to know the reason for doing something or the goal that someone is trying to achieve. For example, if you see someone carrying a ladder, you might ask ¿Para qué necesitas la escalera? (What do you need the ladder for?).
¿Por qué? is used to ask about the cause or reason for something. It should be used when you want to know the explanation for an event, situation, or action. For example, if someone is crying, you might ask ¿Por qué estás llorando? (Why are you crying?).
¿A qué? is used in specific contexts, often related to professions or activities. It is most commonly used in the phrase ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?). It can also be used in other contexts to ask about the activity or profession someone is involved in. For example, ¿A qué hora llegas? (At what time are you arriving?).
Here are some key differences summarized in a table:
| Phrase | Meaning | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Para qué? | For what purpose? | To ask about the intention or goal of an action. | ¿Para qué estudias? (What do you study for?) |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? | To ask about the cause or reason for something. | ¿Por qué estás aquí? (Why are you here?) |
| ¿A qué? | What? | To ask about profession, dedication or in specific contexts like time or taste. | ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?) |
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes is confusing ¿Para qué? and ¿Por qué?. Because both can be translated as “what for” in certain contexts, learners sometimes use them interchangeably. However, it’s important to remember that ¿Para qué? is used for purpose, while ¿Por qué? is used for cause or reason.
Another common mistake is forgetting to use the inverted question mark (¿) at the beginning of the question. In Spanish, it’s essential to use both the opening and closing question marks to indicate that it is an interrogative sentence.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Por qué necesitas el libro? | ¿Para qué necesitas el libro? | Incorrect use of ¿Por qué? when asking about the purpose. |
| Para qué estás triste? | ¿Por qué estás triste? | Missing inverted question mark and incorrect use of Para qué when asking about a reason. |
| ¿A qué estudias? | ¿Qué estudias? | Incorrect use of ¿A qué? in this context. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of ¿Para qué?, ¿Por qué?, and ¿A qué? with these practice exercises. Choose the correct question word to complete each sentence.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct question word (Para qué, Por qué, A qué)
- _______ estudias español? (Why do you study Spanish?)
- _______ necesitas este martillo? (What do you need this hammer for?)
- _______ te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?)
- _______ estás tan feliz? (Why are you so happy?)
- _______ quieres ir a la playa? (What do you want to go to the beach for?)
- _______ no viniste ayer? (Why didn’t you come yesterday?)
- _______ sirve esta máquina? (What is this machine for?)
- _______ hora empieza la fiesta? (What time does the party start?)
- _______ estás ahorrando dinero? (What are you saving money for?)
- _______ no me llamaste? (Why didn’t you call me?)
Answers:
- ¿Por qué?
- ¿Para qué?
- ¿A qué?
- ¿Por qué?
- ¿Para qué?
- ¿Por qué?
- ¿Para qué?
- ¿A qué?
- ¿Para qué?
- ¿Por qué?
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the correct question word.
- Why are you learning to cook?
- What do you need my phone number for?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Why are you so tired?
- What do you want to buy a new car for?
- Why didn’t you tell me?
- What is this button for?
- What does your brother do for a living?
- Why are you late?
- What are you reading this book for?
Answers:
- ¿Por qué estás aprendiendo a cocinar?
- ¿Para qué necesitas mi número de teléfono?
- ¿A qué dedicas tu tiempo libre?
- ¿Por qué estás tan cansado?
- ¿Para qué quieres comprar un coche nuevo?
- ¿Por qué no me dijiste?
- ¿Para qué sirve este botón?
- ¿A qué se dedica tu hermano?
- ¿Por qué llegas tarde?
- ¿Para qué estás leyendo este libro?
Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “por qué” or “para qué”.
- ¿_________ estudias tanto? ¿Quieres sacar buenas notas?
- ¿_________ necesitas ese cuchillo? ¿Vas a cortar algo?
- ¿_________ estás triste? ¿Te pasó algo malo?
- ¿_________ quieres ir a Italia? ¿Quieres ver Roma?
- ¿_________ no me llamaste ayer? ¿Estabas ocupado?
- ¿_________ tienes tanta prisa? ¿Vas a llegar tarde?
- ¿_________ quieres aprender a bailar? ¿Te gusta la música?
- ¿_________ necesitas mi ayuda? ¿No puedes hacerlo solo?
- ¿_________ estás ahorrando dinero? ¿Quieres comprar una casa?
- ¿_________ no quieres venir a la fiesta? ¿No te sientes bien?
Answers:
- ¿Por qué estudias tanto? ¿Quieres sacar buenas notas?
- ¿Para qué necesitas ese cuchillo? ¿Vas a cortar algo?
- ¿Por qué estás triste? ¿Te pasó algo malo?
- ¿Para qué quieres ir a Italia? ¿Quieres ver Roma?
- ¿Por qué no me llamaste ayer? ¿Estabas ocupado?
- ¿Por qué tienes tanta prisa? ¿Vas a llegar tarde?
- ¿Para qué quieres aprender a bailar? ¿Te gusta la música?
- ¿Para qué necesitas mi ayuda? ¿No puedes hacerlo solo?
- ¿Para qué estás ahorrando dinero? ¿Quieres comprar una casa?
- ¿Por qué no quieres venir a la fiesta? ¿No te sientes bien?
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s important to understand more nuanced uses of these phrases and related expressions. This includes understanding the difference between “¿Por qué sí?” and “¿Por qué no?”, which are used to ask “Why yes?” and “Why not?” respectively.
Another advanced topic is the use of these phrases in indirect questions. In indirect questions, the word order changes, and the question mark is often omitted. For example: Me pregunto por qué está triste (I wonder why he/she is sad).
Additionally, understanding regional variations in the use of these phrases can be helpful. While the basic meanings remain the same, some regions may prefer one phrase over another in certain contexts.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about using “for what” in Spanish:
- What is the difference between ¿Para qué? and ¿Por qué??
¿Para qué? asks about the purpose or intention, while ¿Por qué? asks about the cause or reason. Think of ¿Para qué? as “what for?” and ¿Por qué? as “why?”. - When should I use ¿A qué??
Use ¿A qué? primarily when asking about someone’s profession or main activity, such as in the question ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?). Also, use it when inquiring about time or taste. - Can I use ¿Por qué? at the end of a sentence?
Yes, you can, but it’s more common to use it at the beginning. When used at the end, the sentence structure remains the same, but the emphasis might be slightly different. For example: Estás triste, ¿por qué? (You are sad, why?). - How do I answer a question that starts with ¿Para qué??
You typically answer with para followed by an infinitive verb or a clause explaining the purpose. For example: ¿Para qué estudias español? Para viajar a España (What do you study Spanish for? To travel to Spain). - How do I answer a question that starts with ¿Por qué??
You typically answer with porque(because) followed by the reason. For example: ¿Por qué estás triste? Porque perdí mi trabajo (Why are you sad? Because I lost my job).
- Is it necessary to use the inverted question mark (¿) in Spanish?
Yes, it is essential. Spanish uses both an opening (¿) and a closing (?) question mark to clearly indicate that a sentence is a question. - Can I use ¿Para qué? to ask about the reason for an event?
No, ¿Para qué? is specifically used to ask about the purpose or intention behind an action, not the reason for an event. Use ¿Por qué? to ask about the cause or reason for an event. - What is the difference between porque, por qué, porqué, and por que?
Porque (one word, no accent) means “because” and is used to answer a question. Por qué (two words, accent on “é”) means “why” and is used to ask a question. El porqué (one word, masculine article “el”) means “the reason” and is a noun. Por que (two words, no accent) is used in specific grammatical constructions, such as before a subordinate clause introduced by “que”. - Are there any regional variations in the use of these phrases?
While the basic meanings of ¿Para qué?, ¿Por qué?, and ¿A qué? remain consistent across Spanish-speaking regions, some regions may prefer certain expressions or have slightly different idiomatic uses. It’s always a good idea to listen to native speakers and observe how they use these phrases in context.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of ¿Para qué?, ¿Por qué?, and ¿A qué? is a crucial step in becoming proficient in Spanish. Understanding the nuances of each phrase and when to use them will allow you to ask more precise questions and engage in more meaningful conversations. By practicing the examples and exercises provided in this guide, you can confidently and accurately express yourself in Spanish.
Remember that language learning is a continuous process. Keep practicing, listening to native speakers, and exploring different contexts to deepen your understanding and fluency. ¡Buena suerte!
(Good luck!)