Definition: A question that is embedded in a statement. Unlike direct questions, which end in question marks in English and Spanish, an indirect question is typically in a sentence that ends in a period.

Like many direct questions, an indirect question begins with an interrogative word such as dónde in Spanish or "where" in English. Like interrogative words in direct questions, those in Spanish indirect questions require an orthographic accent.


Term in Spanish:Pregunta indirecta.

Synonymous term in English: Embedded question.

Examples: The portions of these statements that are indirect questions is in boldface:

• Catarina no me dijo cuántas personas vieron el choque. (Catarina didn't tell me how many people saw the crash.)
• Quiero aprender cómo lo hizo. I want to learn how he did it.
• No hay viento favorable para el barco que no sabe adónde va. There's no tailwind for the ship that doesn't know where it's going.