The word "cuan" is primarily used as an adverb in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription of "cuan" in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is [kwan].
The word "cuan" is used to express a degree or extent, similar to "how" or "as" in English. It is often employed in questions or clauses to inquire about the extent of something. The frequency of use is moderate, and it is prevalent in both oral and written Spanish, although you might encounter it more frequently in formal contexts, like academic texts.
Cuan difícil es aprender un nuevo idioma.
How difficult it is to learn a new language.
No sé cuan lejos está la playa de aquí.
I don’t know how far the beach is from here.
Me pregunto cuan importante es este asunto para ti.
I wonder how important this matter is to you.
The word "cuan" can be part of various idiomatic phrases, often emphasizing comparison or extent.
Cuan alto es el riesgo de invertir en acciones.
How high is the risk of investing in stocks.
Cuan importante es la educación en el desarrollo personal.
How important is education in personal development.
Cuan rápido pasa el tiempo cuando te diviertes.
How fast time flies when you have fun.
Cuan notable es la diferencia entre estudiar y no estudiar.
How remarkable is the difference between studying and not studying.
Cuan profundo puede ser el amor verdadero.
How deep true love can be.
The word "cuan" derives from an interrogative adverbial form that expresses degree or extent in the Spanish language. Its roots can be traced to Latin, similar to words like "quantus," which also relates to quantity or degree.
While "cuan" itself may not have direct antonyms, in context it can be contrasted with terms that imply lesser extension or minimal extent, such as "poco" (little) when discussing quantity or extent.
Overall, "cuan" serves a functional role in the Spanish language, allowing speakers to inqure about degrees and extents effectively.