Que vs. Qual: Choose the Right Portuguese Question Word — Practice

Use que before a noun to ask what kind or which one

Que can ask for a description or identify a type: que livro você está lendo? (what/which book are you reading?). It also appears in direct questions such as que aconteceu? (what happened?) and que horas são? (what time is it?). English ‘what’ and ‘which’ do not map to a single Portuguese word in every sentence.

When que comes before a singular or plural noun, the word stays que: que filme, que filmes. The noun carries the number, so there is no need to add an s to que in this pattern.

Use qual or quais to identify or select

Qual often asks which person or thing you mean, especially when choosing among options: qual você prefere? (which one do you prefer?). It changes to quais for a plural choice. Before a noun, qual can also work: qual ônibus vai para o centro? (which bus goes downtown?).

Prepositions join with qual in common questions: de qual você gosta? (which one do you like?), com quais pessoas você vai? (which people are you going with?). Context and the alternatives available shape which question word sounds most natural.

Remember: Use que for open questions and before a noun such as que livro. Use qual/quais to identify or choose among people or things; learn the full question pattern you need.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. What song do you want to listen to?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Que música você quer ouvir?

2. What time does the bus leave?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Que horas o ônibus sai?

3. What happened next?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O que aconteceu depois?

4. What is your last name?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual é o seu sobrenome?

5. Which of these options works best?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual dessas opções funciona melhor?

6. Which days work best for you?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Quais dias são melhores para você?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use que for open questions and before a noun such as que livro. Use qual/quais to identify or choose among people or things; learn the full question pattern you need.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Que vs. Qual: Choose the Right Portuguese Question Word lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.