Using cómo, dónde and cuándo in interrogative, exclamatory and indirect sentences

How to say how, when and where in Spanish

In Spanish when we want to ask questions or make exclamatory sentences that refer to how, when or where we use the interrogative adverbs:

  • cómo (how)
  • dónde (where)
  • cuándo (when)

Have a look and listen to the following examples:

¿Cómo has llegado hasta aquí?How did you get here?

¿Dónde celebrarás tu cumpleaños?Where will you celebrate your birthday?

¿Cuándo tienes el próximo examen?When are you having your next exam?

¡Cómo huele esa tortilla de patatas!This Spanish omelette smells delicious! [lit: How that Spanish omelette smells!]

¡Hasta cuándo vamos a aguantar a este gobierno!Until when are we going to put up with this government!

As well as in interrogative sentences, they are also used with the same forms in indirect questions:

Ella no sabe cómo ha llegado hasta aquí.She doesn't know how she got here.

Marcos le está preguntando dónde celebrará su cumpleaños.Marcos is asking her where she will celebrate her birthday.

Susana quiere saber cuándo va a tener el próximo examen.Susana wants to know when she is going to have her next exam.

Note that in both types of sentences above they all have a written accent [´].

Other forms of dónde

If we are using a verb that implies movement, e.g.  ir, viajar, etc... we can also use "adónde" or "a dónde" (both spellings with and without a space are correct), although "dónde" is also equally correct. 

For example:

¿Dónde vamos?Where are we going?

¿Adónde vamos?Where are we going?

¿A dónde vamos?Where are we going?

Remember that interrogatives dónde, adónde and a dónde all have a written accent: ¿dónde...?  ¿adónde...?  ¿a dónde...?

See also:

 

 

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Examples and resources

¿Cómo has llegado hasta aquí?How did you get here?
¿Cuándo tienes el próximo examen?When are you having your next exam?
¿Cuándo fuiste tú a Ibiza?When did you go to Ibiza?
¿Dónde celebrarás tu cumpleaños?Where will you celebrate your birthday?
Marcos le está preguntando dónde celebrará su cumpleaños.Marcos is asking her where she will celebrate her birthday.
Susana quiere saber cuándo va a tener el próximo examen.Susana wants to know when she is going to have her next exam.
Ella no sabe cómo ha llegado hasta aquí.She doesn't know how she got here.
¡Hasta cuándo vamos a aguantar a este gobierno!Until when are we going to put up with this government!
¡Cómo huele esa tortilla de patatas!This Spanish omelette smells delicious! [lit: How that Spanish omelette smells!]
Oye, Marta, ¿cuándo sale nuestro vuelo?Hey, Marta, when is our flight departing?
¿Adónde vamos?Where are we going?
¿Dónde vamos?Where are we going?
¿A dónde vamos?Where are we going?
Let me take a look at that...