# Que

/ˈkju/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/que
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. barbeque

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

a short way of writing 'barbeque' — food cooked over a fire or the party where it is served.

For teachers: a clipping of 'barbeque', referring to the cooking method, the food produced, or the social event.

- We are heading to a backyard que this weekend for some grilled ribs.
- The local competition for the best smoked que attracted pitmasters from across the state, each claiming a secret sauce recipe.

Usage: Often used in restaurant names or casual event invitations.

### 2. a line of people

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Dialect

an informal way to spell 'queue' — a line of people waiting for something.

For teachers: an alternative spelling of 'queue', denoting a sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn.

- The que for the new movie was so long that we decided to go home.
- Digital platforms often place users in a virtual que during high-traffic ticket releases to prevent server crashes.

Teaching tip: This spelling is common in South Asian English and internet shorthand but is considered a misspelling in standard British or American professional contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.