Qué and Cuál

Qué is used to ask for...

A definition or an explanation.: Rule 1:Always use qué to mean WHAT directly in front of any NOUN . ¿Qué libro lee usted? What book do you read? ¿Qué comida comen ellos? What food do they eat?

Interrogative pronouns, question words.

a question word is actually a pronoun because it is used in place of the noun that would be the answer to the question.

Qué used before a ____ has the same meaning as ______

noun, cuàl

Qué (What )

rule 2: Qué is used in front of any form of the verb ser when asking for a definition or an explanation. That is, when you're really asking "What does it mean?" or "What is it?"

Cuál(es) is used when there is a choice among several possibilities

rule 3: Cuál is used in front of any form of the verb ser when you're asking for a choice or specific answer. For example, consider the difference between the following two answers to a question about your address. The sample questions that generate them use the es form, which means is, of the verb ser.

cuál(es)

what; which

qué

what; which. What do they sell at Kmart?