Que vs. Qual: Choose the Right Portuguese Question Word
Que and qual can both mean ‘what’ or ‘which’; the noun, options, and question pattern help you choose.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Use que before a noun to ask what kind or which one
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.
Que música você quer ouvir?
What song do you want to listen to?
Que horas o ônibus sai?
What time does the bus leave?
O que aconteceu depois?
What happened next?
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.
Qual é o seu sobrenome?
What is your last name?
Qual dessas opções funciona melhor?
Which of these options works best?
Quais dias são melhores para você?
Which days work best for you?
Put it into practice
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.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “What time does the bus leave”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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