In Spanish, how do you know whether to use lo que or que?

Question

Don't they just mean the same thing?

I know qué with an accent is used for questions, but what about when it doesn't have a question?

I know qué with an accent is used for questions, but what about when it isn't a question?

Answer 1

According to my Spanish book, "que" without the accent is used as the English word "that". It gives the examples "Donde esta el flan que pidio?" which means "Where is the flan (that) I ordered?" and "Creo que la fiesta es manana," which means "I think (that) the party is tomorrow". We can leave out the "that" and still be correct, but in Spanish you have to say "que".

"Lo que" is used in Spanish as we use the words "what", "that which," or "the thing that". The book gives the examples "Lo que quiero es verte," which means "What I want is to see you," and "Juana tiene todo lo que necesitamos," which means "Juana has everything we need."

Answer 2

I've found that it is helpful (at least in my mind) to think of "lo que" as "the thing that". For example "Eso es lo que quiero" would be "That's the thing that I want". "Qué" on the other hand, is for questions and when you don't really know what object you're referring to, as in "No sé qué quiero".

This is a trick that kind of helped me when I was learning Spanish. Hopefully I don't screw up too much anymore. :)

Answer 3

Qué (with an accent) What? (is a question)
What do you want?
¿Qúe quieres?

lo que (without accent) ...is what.....

That is what I want you to know.
Eso es "lo que" quiero que sepas.

Answer 4

"Qué" is used as "what" in a question.
Ex: ¿Qué es esto? = What is this?

"Lo que" is used in regular sentences.
Ex: Tú sabes lo que quiero. = You know what I want.

Buena Suerte

Answer 5

Not quite. Depends on whether you want to know what it is, or just asking, 'What?'