Que vs. Queue — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
"Que" is often a misspelling of "queue," which refers to a line of people or things waiting for service or processing. "Queue" is a noun or verb in English, while "que" can be a contraction of "que es" in Spanish, meaning "what is."
Difference Between Que and Queue
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Key Differences
"Que" and "queue" are two words that are commonly confused, mostly because they are pronounced the same way but mean different things. "Que" is not standard English and is often considered a typo or shorthand for "queue." However, "que" has relevance in Spanish as a word that means "what," often part of phrases like "¿Qué pasa?" which means "What's happening?"
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
"Queue," on the other hand, is a standard English word that describes a line of people or things waiting their turn. It can be used as both a noun and a verb. For example, one can stand in a queue or queue up for tickets. The word has its origins in French and is used in various contexts, such as computing, to describe a data structure where elements are stored and retrieved in a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) manner.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
In summary, "que" and "queue" may sound the same but are different in spelling, meaning, and language of origin. "Que" is commonly seen as a mistake in English unless it's in a Spanish context, while "queue" is an English word with French origins that refers to a line or a method of data organization.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Another notable difference between "que" and "queue" is in the languages where they are used or understood. "Que" is significant in Spanish-speaking countries or in contexts where Spanish is spoken. "Queue" is a word widely used in English-speaking countries and has been adopted into the vocabulary of other languages.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Definitions
Que
"Que" is a Spanish word meaning "what."
¿Qué quieres? means What do you want?
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Sep 17, 2023
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Queue
A "queue" refers to a line of people or things.
The queue at the grocery store was long.
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Sep 17, 2023
Que
"Que" is not standard in English but appears in text shorthand.
I am in que for the movie (typo intended).
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Sep 17, 2023
Queue
"Queue" can also be a verb meaning to form a line.
People started to queue up for tickets.
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Sep 17, 2023
Que
In English, "que" is often considered a typo of "queue."
He wrote que but meant queue.
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Sep 17, 2023
Queue
"Queue" can indicate a sequence or order of tasks.
The tasks were in the queue to be completed.
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Sep 17, 2023
Que
"Que" can serve as a conjunction in Spanish sentences.
Dijo que viene, meaning He said that he is coming.
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Queue
A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
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Sep 08, 2018
Que
"Que" is commonly used in Spanish questions.
¿Qué pasa? means What's happening?
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Sep 17, 2023
Queue
A list of data items, commands, etc., stored so as to be retrievable in a definite order, usually the order of insertion.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
Arrange in a queue
Input or output requests to a file are queued by the operating system
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Queue
A data structure from which the first item that can be retrieved is the one stored earliest.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
A long braid of hair worn hanging down the back of the neck; a pigtail.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
A line of people, vehicles or other objects, in which one at the front end is dealt with first, the one behind is dealt with next, and so on, and which newcomers join at the opposite end (the back).
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
A waiting list or other means of organizing people or objects into a first-come-first-served order.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
(computing) A data structure in which objects are added to one end, called the tail, and removed from the other, called the head (in the case of a FIFO queue). The term can also refer to a LIFO queue or stack where these ends coincide.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
A men's hairstyle with a braid or ponytail at the back of the head, such as that worn by men in Imperial China.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
(intransitive) To put oneself or itself at the end of a waiting line.
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
(information processing) an ordered list of tasks to be performed or messages to be transmitted
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
Form a queue, form a line, stand in line;
Customers lined up in front of the store
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Sep 08, 2018
Queue
In computing, a "queue" is a data structure.
The printer queue was full of pending jobs.
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Sep 17, 2023
Queue
"Queue" is a standard English word with French origins.
The word queue comes from the French word for tail.
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Sep 17, 2023
FAQs
Can "Queue" be a verb?
Yes, "queue" can be both a noun and a verb in English.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Is "Que" a common typo?
Yes, "que" is often mistakenly written when "queue" is intended.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
What is a computing queue?
It's a data structure that stores elements in a First-In-First-Out manner.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Where does "Queue" come from?
"Queue" originates from the French word for "tail."
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Sep 17, 2023
How do you use "Que" in a sentence?
"Que" is used in Spanish sentences like, "¿Qué haces?"
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Sep 17, 2023
Is "Que" an English word?
"Que" is not standard in English and often seen as a typo for "queue."
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Sep 17, 2023
How do you use "Queue" in a sentence?
In English, you can say, "The queue at the airport was long."
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Sep 17, 2023
Is "Queue" used in British and American English?
Yes, "queue" is used in both dialects, although Americans may also use "line" to describe a queue.
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Sep 17, 2023
Does "Que" have other meanings in Spanish?
Primarily, it means "what," but it can also function as a conjunction.
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Sep 17, 2023
Why is "Queue" spelled with so many vowels?
Its spelling comes from its French origin, where "queue" means "tail."
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Sep 17, 2023
Can "Que" and "Queue" be used interchangeably?
No, they are not interchangeable due to their different meanings and languages of origin.
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Sep 17, 2023
What's the opposite of "Queue"?
There's no exact antonym, but "disperse" or "scatter" could serve as opposites in the context of a line dispersing.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
