Which one should you use?
While ¿qué estás haciendo? is a common way to ask the question, you might also hear ¿Qué haces? as an informal way to ask the same thing. To ask what someone is up to in an informal way, you can use ¿En qué andas metido?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Latin America, such as Central America, Argentina or Uruguay, you may hear the informal phrase ¿Qué estás haciendo vos? to address someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on who you are addressing. To address one person formally, use ¿qué está haciendo? or ¿Qué está usted haciendo? To address a group of people, use the plural form ¿qué están haciendo?
When do people say it?
In Colombia, it is common to use the colloquial term "man" when asking the question, resulting in the phrase ¿Qué estás haciendo man?
Did you know?
- While ¿Qué estás haciendo? is a direct question, in some Caribbean dialects, asking this with a specific rising intonation can serve as a confrontational way to say 'what is your problem'.
- The phrase ¿En qué andas metido? literally means 'what are you getting yourself stuck in', implying the person might be involved in something secret or mischievous.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, ¿Qué haces? is often used as a general greeting like 'how are you' rather than a literal question about a current activity.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué estás haciendo en la cocina?What are you doing in the kitchen?
Example conversation
Alejandro calls Sofía on the phone.
- AlejandroHola Sofía, ¿qué estás haciendo?Hi Sofía, what are you doing?
- SofíaEstoy leyendo un libro, Alejandro.I am reading a book, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Quieres ir al cine hoy?Do you want to go to the cinema today?
- SofíaSí, me encantaría ir.Yes, I would love to go.
