Cuestión vs Pregunta

[sano23]

But I was taught that el sol esta brilloso means the sun is bright

Moderator Note:
The question above was asked in another thread. Another question was brought up (see post #3), so this thread was created to contain the responses to that question.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by sano23

But I was taught that el sol esta brilloso means the sun is bright

We never say "el sol está brilloso".

[SPX]

This is the kind of thing that makes me . . . uhh, love . . . learning another language.

It can be frustrating.

It reminds of being originally taught that the word for question is "cuestión." And then it seems that no one actually says that, at least no one that I've run into. It's always pregunta.

[Rusty]

Both pregunta and cuestión are used all the time, but they don't mean the same thing.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Both pregunta and cuestión are used all the time, but they don't mean the same thing.

Can you explain the difference? I used to have a Spanish computer program that taught cuestión as being the Spanish word for question. (Google Translate also gives cuestión as one of the translations for question.) However, when I got to Guatemala they acted like they had never even heard of the word and basically told me to discard it.

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by SPX

Can you explain the difference? I used to have a Spanish computer program that taught cuestión as being the Spanish word for question. (Google Translate also gives cuestión as one of the translations for question.) However, when I got to Guatemala they acted like they had never even heard of the word and basically told me to discard it.

"Cuestión" generally means "question, matter, issue": "llegar al fondo de la cuestïón" = to get to the heart of the matter.

"Pregunta" is what one asks of another person in order to solicit information.

[SPX]

Ah, I see. . .

I think.

So are there any regions where it simply means question? And if not, how is it that supposedly professional language courses would make such a basic error?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by SPX

Ah, I see. . .

I think.

So are there any regions where it simply means question? And if not, how is it that supposedly professional language courses would make such a basic error?

All of these questions should be split into another thread....

Todas esta preguntas deberían ser separadas y puestas en otro hilo.

Es cuestión de reglas.

It is a question of rules.

[SPX]

Yes, I didn't mean to hijack the question . . . or pregunta . . . or cuestión as some might allege.

But I see what you did there, LOL. A subtle teaching style, you have.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by SPX

So are there any regions where it simply means question? And if not, how is it that supposedly professional language courses would make such a basic error?

The word cuestión does mean question, but only when it means matter or issue. Perhaps this is what the course used because that was the meaning.

Chileno's answer shows the difference quite well, and wrholt described the difference quite well.