¿mamá, qué haces?
The English phrase "mom, what are you doing?" is translated into Spanish as ¿mamá, qué haces?
This phrase is used to ask one's mother what she is performing at the present moment.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ¿mamá, qué haces? translates to "Mom, what do you do?", but it functions as a way to ask about current activity.
Which one should you use?
The form ¿mamá, qué haces? uses the present simple tense, whereas the form Mamá, ¿qué estás haciendo? uses the present continuous.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the present simple tense used in ¿mamá, qué haces? is frequently used to express an action that is currently in progress, rather than just a habitual action.
Did you know?
- While mamá is the standard word for 'mom', calling your mother madre in a casual setting like this can sound cold or overly formal, almost as if you are speaking to a stranger.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, this phrase is often paired with a physical gesture of affection, such as a kiss on the cheek or a hug, even among adult children.
- The Spanish word qué shares the same ancient Proto-Indo-European roots as the English word 'what', tracing back to the same ancestral source.
Examples in context
- Mamá, ¿qué estás haciendo? Tengo curiosidad.Mom, what are you doing? I'm curious.
- ¿Mamá, qué haces en la cocina?Mom, what are you doing in the kitchen?
Example conversation
Lucía walks into the living room and sees her mother.
- Lucía¿Mamá, qué haces?Mom, what are you doing?
- MateoEstoy leyendo un libro, Lucía.I am reading a book, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Es un libro interesante?Is it an interesting book?
- MateoSí, me gusta mucho.Yes, I like it a lot.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamá, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
