What’s What in Spanish? | Say It Without Sounding Weird

“What’s what” is usually “qué es qué” in Spanish when you mean the facts, and it shifts to stronger phrases when you mean a reprimand.

“What’s what” looks simple, but it’s sneaky. In English it can mean the facts of a situation, or it can mean putting someone in their place. Spanish has solid options for both, yet the best pick depends on tone, the setting, and who you’re talking to.

This article gives you clear Spanish choices, when to use each one, and how to avoid the common traps that make learners sound stiff or rude. You’ll also get ready-to-steal sample lines you can adapt in chats, emails, and real conversations.

What “What’s What” Means In English Before You Translate

If you translate the words one by one, you’ll miss the point. Start with meaning, then choose the Spanish that matches it.

Sense 1: The facts, the real situation

In this sense, “what’s what” means the lay of the land: who does what, what the rules are, what belongs where, and what is true. Dictionaries define it as “the facts of a situation.” You can see that definition in the Cambridge entry for “what’s what”.

Sense 2: A reprimand or a reality check

In this sense, “to tell someone what’s what” means you corrected them, warned them, or spoke plainly in a way that lands like a slap of truth. Collins describes this informal use as “the true situation” and also notes the “tell him what’s what” pattern in its definition of the phrase. See the Collins definition for “what’s what”.

Saying What’s What In Spanish With The Right Tone

Spanish doesn’t use one universal phrase that fits both senses with the same ease. The good news: the core options are simple once you map them to intent.

Best match for “the facts”: “qué es qué”

Qué es qué is the closest all-purpose fit when you mean “which thing is which” or “the facts.” It’s short, natural, and flexible. It works in speech, writing, and classroom settings.

You’ll often see it used after verbs that signal learning or sorting things out:

• Ya sé qué es qué. (I know what’s what now.)
• Necesito aclarar qué es qué. (I need to sort out what’s what.)
• Enséñame qué es qué. (Show me what’s what.)

If you want quick reassurance that native speakers use it, check the bilingual examples for “qué es qué” in Linguee. Use it as a pattern bank, not as a final judge of nuance.

Close cousin: “cuál es cuál”

Cuál es cuál is handy when you’re choosing between similar items, people, or options. It’s a bit more “which is which” than “the facts,” so it’s great for sorting or matching.

• No sé cuál es cuál con estos cables. (I can’t tell which is which with these cables.)
• Explícame cuál es cuál. (Explain which is which.)

When you mean “who’s who”

English speakers sometimes blur “what’s what” with “who’s who.” Spanish mirrors that difference:

• Quién es quién = who’s who (people)
• Qué es qué = what’s what (things, roles, facts)

Strong sense: “decirle cuatro verdades” and friends

When the English line carries heat (“I told him what’s what”), Spanish typically picks a verb phrase that signals a scolding or blunt truth. These options vary by country and by how sharp you want to sound:

• Decirle cuatro verdades (to tell someone a few hard truths)
• Cantarle las cuarenta (to give someone a serious telling off)
• Poner a alguien en su sitio (to put someone in their place)

These are common, but they’re loaded. They can sound harsh in polite settings, and they can sound dramatic if you use them for small stuff. If you want a calmer tone, you can say you were clear or direct:

• Se lo dije bien claro. (I told him clearly.)
• Le hablé con franqueza. (I spoke candidly.)
• Le marqué los límites. (I set boundaries.)

Quick Rules That Keep You From Sounding Off

Two tiny details matter a lot: accents and structure. Get them right and your Spanish looks polished. Miss them and your meaning can drift.

Accents: “qué” vs “que”

Qué with an accent is used in questions and exclamations. In qué es qué, both qué words carry an accent because they’re interrogative. The RAE’s entry on “qué” explains this accent use and the difference from que without an accent.

Word order: keep it tight

Resist the urge to stuff extra words in the middle. Qué es qué works because it’s compact. Variants like qué cosa es qué can appear in speech, but they sound heavier and are rarely needed.

Picking The Right Spanish Option By Scenario

Here’s a practical way to choose. Ask yourself one question: are you sorting facts, or are you correcting someone?

When you’re sorting facts, roles, or rules

Use qué es qué when you want the structure of a topic. This fits school, work, travel, tech, and any moment where you’re trying to get oriented.

• Antes de firmar, quiero tener claro qué es qué.
• En este tema, él sabe qué es qué.

When you’re matching similar items

Use cuál es cuál when the main task is identifying one thing versus another.

• Con tantas versiones, cuesta ver cuál es cuál.
• Hazme un resumen para saber cuál es cuál.

When you’re calling someone out

If you mean “I put them in their place,” pick a phrase that matches the level of conflict. In a casual retelling with friends, a stronger idiom can fit. In a workplace chat, a neutral line is safer.

Neutral, workplace-safe options

• Le dejé claro el tema. (I made the point clear.)
• Le expliqué cómo iban las cosas. (I explained how things work.)
• Le dije que así no. (I told him that won’t fly.)

Stronger, more confrontational options

• Le canté las cuarenta.
• Le dije cuatro verdades.
• Lo puse en su sitio.

Use the strong group only when you’re sure the relationship and the context can take it. Spanish idioms can land harder than their English cousins.

Spanish Options For “What’s What” At A Glance

This table maps the English intent to Spanish choices, plus a quick note on tone.

English intent	Spanish options	When it fits
The facts of a situation	qué es qué	General “facts/roles/rules” meaning
Which thing is which	cuál es cuál	Sorting similar items or choices
Who’s who (people)	quién es quién	Identifying people and roles
I told him off	le canté las cuarenta	Strong scolding, casual retelling
I spoke bluntly	le dije cuatro verdades	Hard truths, can sound sharp
I put them in their place	lo/la puse en su sitio	High heat, not for polite settings
I was clear about boundaries	le marqué los límites	Firm tone without an idiom
I explained how things work	le expliqué cómo iban las cosas	Direct, calmer, office-friendly

Sample Lines You Can Steal

Below are ready-to-use lines grouped by the meaning you want. Swap the details, keep the structure, and you’ll sound natural.

Facts and orientation

• Déjame ver el plan para entender qué es qué.
• Con dos reuniones más, ya voy a saber qué es qué.
• Haz una lista corta para que quede claro qué es qué.

Sorting similar choices

• Con estos nombres parecidos, no sé cuál es cuál.
• Muéstrame el modelo nuevo y el anterior para ver cuál es cuál.
• Etiqueta las cajas, así sabemos cuál es cuál.

Calling someone out

• Le dije que parara y le dejé claro el punto.
• Le hablé con franqueza y se calmó.
• Si sigue igual, le voy a decir cuatro verdades.

Mistakes Learners Make With This Phrase

Most translation issues come from mixing the two English senses or picking an idiom that’s too strong for the moment.

Mixing “qué es qué” with scolding

Qué es qué is neutral. It does not mean “I told him off.” If you use it for a reprimand story, it can sound like you’re talking about clarifying facts, not correcting a person.

Overusing the strong idioms

Le canté las cuarenta and lo puse en su sitio can sound like open conflict. If your English line is more like “I set a boundary,” Spanish can mirror that with a calmer verb phrase instead of an idiom.

Dropping accents

In messages, accents get skipped all the time. In published writing, accents signal care. Since the phrase repeats qué, it’s one of those spots where a missing accent stands out.

Cheat Sheet For Fast Picking

This second table is built for real use: you can glance, pick, and write your sentence.

Your situation	Spanish to use	Starter line
You want the facts	qué es qué	Quiero tener claro qué es qué.
You’re matching similar items	cuál es cuál	No distingo cuál es cuál.
You’re naming people and roles	quién es quién	Vamos a ver quién es quién.
You set a boundary, calm tone	se lo dejé claro	Se lo dejé claro desde el inicio.
You scolded someone, high heat	le canté las cuarenta	Le canté las cuarenta y se acabó.

A Simple Way To Practice So It Sticks

Practice works best when you tie a phrase to a moment you’ve lived. Here’s a low-effort drill that builds automatic recall.

Step 1: Write two mini-scenes

• Scene A: you’re sorting out a confusing topic. Write one sentence with qué es qué.
• Scene B: you’re correcting someone. Write one sentence with a calm boundary phrase, not an idiom.

Step 2: Read them out loud twice

Spanish rhythm matters. Reading out loud makes qué es qué feel like a single unit, not three separate words.

Step 3: Upgrade one sentence

Take your calm boundary sentence and rewrite it in a stronger style, only if the situation fits. You’ll learn the gradient from neutral to sharp without getting stuck in one tone.

After a week, you’ll stop guessing. You’ll know when you mean facts, when you mean “which is which,” and when you mean a scolding. That’s the whole trick.