Hola, ¿qué haces?
Hola, ¿qué haces? is the Spanish way to say "hello what are you doing".
This phrase is a casual greeting used when you want to ask someone what they are currently doing.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, a very common and natural response is to say Nada, ¿y tú? (Nothing and you?).
Did you know?
- The word hola may have originated from a French term meaning 'hey! stop!' or a Germanic call used to hail ferrymen.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿qué haces? can sometimes be used as a way to start a conversation about a person's general life situation, rather than just their immediate physical activity.
- The word qué descends from the Latin word quid, which is the same root used in the English phrase 'quid pro quo'.
Examples in context
- Permítame saludarle, ¿qué está haciendo en este momento?Allow me to greet you, what are you doing at the moment?
- ¡Qué onda! ¿En qué andas?What's up? What are you doing?
Example conversation
Javier calls Lucía on the phone.
- JavierHola, ¿qué haces?Hello, what are you doing?
- LucíaHola, estoy leyendo un libro.Hello, I am reading a book.
- Javier¿Tienes tiempo para salir?Do you have time to go out?
- LucíaSí, dame diez minutos.Yes, give me ten minutes.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
