What Is the Spanish Upside Down Question Mark?

You might have seen the upside down question mark on Spanish keyboards, but what exactly is it? The upside down question mark (¿) actually has a name – it is called an inverted question mark or an inverted interrogation point.

The inverted question mark is used in Spanish and other languages to signify the start of a question. The upside down question mark also helps to differentiate between similar words that have different meanings. For example, in Spanish the same word can mean two different things depending on if the question mark is used.

How to Type the Spanish Upside Down Question Mark?

Most modern keyboards have the inverted question mark on the same key as the regular question mark. To type it, hold the “Alt” key and press the “Shift” key and then press the “?” key.

On a Mac, press the “Option” key and then press the “Shift” key and then press the “?” key.

When to Use the Spanish Upside Down Question Mark?

The upside down question mark should always be used when the sentence is a question. It should also be used when the sentence starts with a word that has a different meaning depending on if the question mark is used.

Examples of When to Use the Spanish Upside Down Question Mark

Here are some examples of when to use the Spanish upside down question mark:

• ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)
• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
• ¿Qué quieres decir? (What do you mean?)
• ¿Cuál es tu nombre? (What is your name?)
• ¿Quieres ir al cine? (Do you want to go to the movies?)
• ¿Por qué no? (Why not?)

Conclusion

The Spanish upside down question mark is an important part of the Spanish language. It helps to signify the start of a question and differentiate between words that have different meanings depending on if the question mark is used. The upside down question mark is easy to type on a modern keyboard and should always be used when the sentence is a question.