Forming Spanish exclamatory sentences with qué [noun] or qué [adjective]

In Spanish, to form exclamatory sentences meaning What a [noun], or How [adjective] we use the pronoun qué

Have a look and listen to the following examples for What a [noun]:

¡Qué cuadro!What a painting!

¡Qué sorpresa!What a surprise!

¡Qué pena!What a pity!

 Now have a look at these examples for How [adjective]:

¡Qué viejo!How old!

¡Qué luminoso!How dazzling!

¡Qué feas!How ugly!

Note that when qué is followed by an adjective, it will agree in gender and number with the noun it is referring to. For example:

¡Mira ese monumento! ¡Qué antiguo!
Look at that monument! How old (it is)!

¡Mira a esas niñas jugando! ¡Qué graciosas!
Look at those girls playing! How cute (they are)!

 

Bear in mind that qué can also be used with an adverb with the same effect, meaning so [adverb]:

¡Qué bien canta Mónica!Mónica sings so well!

¡Qué lento va ese coche!That car is going so slowly!

In exclamatory sentences qué always has a written accent [´].

 

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Examples and resources

¡Qué sorpresa!What a surprise!
¡Qué pena!What a pity!
¡Qué viejo!How old!
¡Qué luminoso!How dazzling!
¡Qué cuadro!What a painting!
¡Qué feas!How ugly!
¡Qué lento va ese coche!That car is going so slowly!
¡Qué bien canta Mónica!Mónica sings so well!
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