58 Spanish Words That Start With Q: Interesting Verbs, Nouns & Spanish Adjectives

The Spanish Q is a really strange letter in the Spanish alphabet. Q in Spanish is always followed by U, forming “qu” every time. 

This way, it’s pronounced a bit like the English “k” sound, because the U is silent. If you’re looking to learn these Spanish words that start with Q, you’re in the right place!

Additionally, you can check this great video made by Spring Spanish (a project I co-founded). In this explanation, Maura explores the correct usage of que in Spanish:

Q is one of the least used letters in Spanish, but is found in many important words, especially question words like “qué” (what) and “quién” (who).

The pronunciation of Q in Spanish is consistent, making it relatively easy for learners to master. Q also never appears at the end of Spanish words. So, it’s easy to use Spanish words that start with Q.

1. The correct pronunciation of Q in Spanish

In Spanish, the pronunciation of the letter Q is consistent and straightforward, unlike in English where it can be different every time.

The Spanish Q is always followed by the letter U, and together they produce a sound similar to the English /k/, only slightly softer.

It’s important to note that the U in this combination is typically silent, so the focus should be on the /k/ sound.

Common sound combinations with Q (que, qui)

The most common Q combinations in Spanish are “que” and “qui“.

These combinations appear in common Spanish words, so you have to know them. Here’s a little help: 

2. Spanish nouns that start with Q

Spanish nouns beginning with Q explain a wide range of topics and everyday items.

From food items like “queso” (cheese) to cultural concepts such as “quinceañera” (a girl’s 15th birthday celebration)…

Check these Spanish words that start with Q:

3. Spanish verbs that start with Q

Verbs beginning with Q in Spanish include some highly useful words.

“Querer“, meaning “to want” or “to love”, is a verb that appears often in everyday conversation.

“Quedar“, which can mean “to stay” or “to meet”, is another common verb with multiple applications.

“Quitar“, meaning “to remove” or “to take away”, rounds out the trio of essential Q verbs. Mastering these verbs will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself in Spanish.

4. Spanish adjectives that start with Q

While less common than nouns or verbs, Spanish adjectives starting with Q are still important for descriptive language.

“Quieto“, meaning “still” or “quiet”, is a useful adjective for describing both objects and behavior.

“Querido“, translating to “dear” or “beloved”, is a warm and affectionate adjective used to describe people in Spanish.

5. Interesting Q-words in Spanish

Spanish is full of intriguing words beginning with Q that are worth exploring.

“Quesadilla“, a well-known Mexican food. “Quetzal” serves double duty as the name of a colorful bird and the currency of Guatemala.

For those interested in more specialized vocabulary, “quinquenal“, meaning “occurring every five years”, is an excellent example of a more advanced Spanish vocabulary.

6. Learn Spanish words that start with Q with Conversation Based Chunking

You can learn the Spanish words that start with Q one-by-one OR you try Conversation Based Chunking.

It’s a method that focuses on teaching you the language with the help of lexical chunks, or as we like to call them – the natural building blocks of the language. You can learn with chunking by immersing yourself in the language.

What does this mean?

Learn Spanish with music, learn Spanish while driving by listening to Spanish podcasts. Basically, surround yourself with Spanish everywhere! Then you look out for these lexical chunks, and in no time, you’ll use them in your own Spanish sentences.

We can give you a head start by sending you the first FREE Spanish Chunking Starter Pack!