By 
Yuliya Geikhman Last updated:
If you see the letter Q in a Spanish word, the letter U is sure to follow. Like in English, the letter is nearly always found in the combination of “qu.” But unlike in English, it’s pronounced “k,” without sounding the “u.” For instance, queso (cheese) is pronounced “keso,” not “kueso.”
Q is one of the least frequent letters in Spanish, but it appears at the beginning of some of the most frequently used words, like que (that) and quiero (I want).Let’s have a look at some more.
Contents
- Spanish Nouns That Start with Q
- Spanish Verbs That Start with Q
- Spanish Adjectives That Start with Q
- Spanish Adverbs That Start with Q
- Spanish Q-Words Quiz: Test Yourself!
- And One More Thing…
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Spanish Nouns That Start with Q
| Spanish Word | English Translation |
|---|---|
| quebrada | ravine |
| quebradero | dilemma |
| quebradizo | brittle |
| quebrado | broken |
| quebrantahuesos | bearded vulture |
| quebrantamiento | breach |
| quebranto | impoverishment |
| quedo | quiet |
| quedón | dozy |
| quehacer | task, chore |
| queja | complaint |
| queje | grouch |
| quejica | whiner |
| quejido | groan |
| quejío | wail, lament |
| quejoso | complaining |
| quejumbre | complaint |
| quejumbroso | complaining |
| quelite | wild edible greens |
| quelonio | sea turtle |
| quema | burning |
| quemacocos | sunroof |
| quemada | burn |
| quemadero | burner |
| quemado | burned |
| quemador | burner |
| quemadura | burn |
| quemazón | blaze, burning |
| quemón | blamer |
| quemonito | rascal, imp |
| quemoso | sickly |
| quena | Andean flute |
| quenacho | type of flute |
| queni | quenlla, type of bird |
| quenopodiáceas | chenopods |
| quenopodio | chenopodium |
| quentada | hot drink |
| quentenario | 500 years |
| quenya | fictional language |
| quera | type of oak tree |
| queratina | keratin |
| quercetina | quercetin |
| quercíneas | oak family |
| quercitron | quercitron |
| quercus | oak |
| quereal | type of oak tree |
| querecuto | type of chestnut |
| querella | lawsuit |
| querencia | fondness |
| querendón | affectionate |
| queresa | whim, caprice |
| queretano | someone from Querétaro |
| querido | beloved |
| querindango | troublemaker, scoundrel |
| queriot | love, affection |
| queroseno | kerosene |
| querub | cherub |
| querube | winged child |
| querubín | cherub |
| querubines | cherubim |
| querubio | cherubic |
| querubismo | cherubic style |
| quesera | cheese bowl |
| quesería | cheese factory/shop |
| quesero | cheese maker |
| quesillo | type of cheese |
| quesito | little cheese |
| quesitos | type of pastry |
| queso | cheese |
| quesque | so-so, mediocre |
| quest | quest, adventure |
| quetzal | quetzal (bird) |
| quevedesco | Quevedian, relating to Quevedo (author) |
| quevedos | eyeglasses, spectacles |
| quia | Siberian tomcat |
| quiaca | type of bird |
| quiacata | drop earring, pendant |
| quiache | type of tree |
| quiahuitl | rain (in Aztec symbols) |
| quiaio | type of fruit |
| quiajos | type of fruit |
| quiali | part of a saddle |
| quialtera | dagger |
| quianti | type of wine |
| quibdoano | from Quibdó |
| quibe | kibbeh, dish made of bulgur wheat |
| quiberonés | from Quiberon |
| quibian | type of hummingbird |
| quibla | qibla, direction of Mecca |
| quiebra | bankruptcy |
| quijada | jaw |
| quijotada | quixotic gesture |
| quijote | quixote |
| quilla | keel |
| quimera | chimera |
| química | chemistry |
| quincalla | hardware store |
| quince | fifteen |
| quincena | fortnight |
| quincuagésimo | fiftieth |
| quiniela | betting pool |
| quintal | quintal (unit of weight) |
| quintalada | powerful hit |
| quinteto | quintet |
| quintillizo | quintuplet |
| quinto | fifth |
| quintuplicado | quintuplicated |
| quiosco | kiosk |
| quiosquero | kiosk vendor |
| quirófano | operating room |
| quiste | cyst |
For more essential nouns, check out this post:
80+ Common Nouns in Spanish (Plus the Different Types) | FluentU Spanish Blog
Knowing nouns in Spanish is essential to building sentences. Click here to learn 80+ commonly used nouns, and the nine types of Spanish nouns (with examples!). Plus,…
Spanish Verbs That Start with Q
| Spanish Word | English Translation |
|---|---|
| quebrantar | to violate, to break |
| quebrar | to break, to fracture |
| quedar | to agree, to arrange |
| quejar | To complain |
| quemar | to burn, to set on fire |
| querer | To want/to love |
| quitar | To remove |
| quietar | to quiet down |
You can see more about verbs and common ones you should know here:
Most Common Spanish Verbs (Plus Conjugations and Examples) | FluentU Spanish Blog
These 150+ most common Spanish verbs are must-knows for Spanish learners because they appear so often! Click here for a lesson on the most important verbs in the Spanish…
Spanish Adjectives That Start with Q
| Spanish Word | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Quebradizo | Brittle |
| Quebrado | Broken |
| Quedo | Soft |
| Quejoso | Complaining |
| Quejumbroso | Whiny |
| Quemado | Burnt |
| Querente | Loving |
| Querido | Dear |
| Queriente | Loving |
| Querubínico | Cherubic |
| Quiebro | Faltering |
| Quieto | Still/Quiet |
| Quimérico | Chimerical |
| Químico | Chemical / Chemist |
| Quincenal | Biweekly |
| Quinquenal | Quinquennial |
| Quirúrgico | Surgical |
| Quisquilloso | Picky |
Want to learn more about Spanish adjectives? Click here:
50 Most Common Spanish Adjectives [With PDF Download] | FluentU Spanish Blog
Spanish adjectives are essential for every Spanish learner. Describe almost anything with ease using these 50 common adjectives in Spanish. Read on to learn how to…
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Spanish Adverbs That Start with Q
| Spanish Word | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Quasi | Almost |
| Quasitotalmente | Almost entirely |
| Que | What |
| Quebrantadoramente | Breakingly/Infringingly |
| Quedito | Very quietly |
| Quedo | Quietly |
| Queridamente | Lovingly |
| Quiméricamente | Chimerically |
| Químicamente | Chemically |
| Quinceañeramente | Like a fifteen-year-old (used humorously) |
| Quincenalmente | Biweekly |
| Quinquenalmente | Quinquennially |
| Quinquiñuelamente | Cunningly/Slyly |
| Quintaesencialmente | Quintessentially |
| Quisás | Perhaps/Maybe |
| Quitar | Barely |
| Quizás | Perhaps/Maybe |
| Quotidianamente | Daily |
Learn everything you need to know about Spanish adverbs here:
100 Most Important Spanish Adverbs | FluentU Spanish Blog
Spanish adverbs are used everywhere the language, but luckily they’re not hard to learn. We’ll show you 100 examples of common Spanish adverbs and how they’re used in…
Spanish Q-Words Quiz: Test Yourself!
0%
What does the Spanish word "querido/a" mean in English?
Correct!Wrong!
Which Spanish adverb means "perhaps" or "maybe"?
Correct!Wrong!
Which Spanish adjective means "brittle"?
Correct!Wrong!
Which Spanish adverb means "almost entirely"?
Correct!Wrong!
What does the Spanish adverb "quincenalmente" mean?
Correct!Wrong!
Spanish Q Words Quiz
Master of Spanish Q words. Nice job!
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Keep practicing!
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You now know many Spanish words that start with Q. Now go use them!
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