¿qué estoy diciendo?
The English phrase "what am I saying?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué estoy diciendo?
This phrase is used as a rhetorical device when a speaker realizes they have lost their train of thought or have made a logical error in their speech. It is a question used when a person is confused about their own words or realizes they have said something incorrect.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the default form uses the progressive aspect (am saying), the present simple form ¿qué digo? is also commonly used to express the same sense of sudden confusion or realization of an error.
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'what am I saying?' to recover a thought, a Spanish speaker might instead use ¿por dónde iba? to mean 'where was I going?' with the same intention.
- Depending on the tone, ¿qué estoy diciendo? can be used as a sarcastic way to mock someone else by repeating their own illogical words back to them.
- The word qué is a direct descendant of the Latin 'quid', which was used in the phrase 'quid pro quo' to mean 'something for something'.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué estoy diciendo? Me perdí por completo.What am I saying? I am completely lost.
- Espera, ¿qué estoy diciendo? Eso no tiene sentido.Wait, what am I saying? That doesn't make sense.
Example conversation
Mateo realizes he gave Lucía the wrong directions.
- MateoGira a la izquierda en la próxima calle.Turn left at the next street.
- LucíaPero el banco está a la derecha.But the bank is to the right.
- MateoAy, ¿qué estoy diciendo? Es a la derecha.Oh, what am I saying? It's to the right.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Mateo.Don't worry, Mateo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
