Which one should you use?
While English speakers commonly use the present continuous "what are we doing?" to inquire about a plan, Spanish speakers frequently use the simple present ¿qué hacemos? for this purpose. In contrast, the form ¿qué estamos haciendo? refers specifically to an action that is happening exactly at this moment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, you may hear the phrase ¿Qué estamos haciendo acá?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ¿qué hacemos? uses the present indicative to express an action that is continuous or happening in the near future, which is a common way to ask about a plan in Spanish. The present continuous form ¿qué estamos haciendo? is used to ask about an action occurring exactly at the moment of speaking.
Did you know?
- The word qué shares a common ancestor with the English word 'what', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷid.
- In some contexts, ¿qué hacemos? can be used to express a sense of helplessness or desperation when facing a problem, acting more as a rhetorical lament than a request for a plan.
- If you were to say ¿qué estamos haciendo? in a restaurant, a waiter might think you are asking for a live description of your current eating process rather than asking what the plan is for the evening.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, señor. ¿Qué estamos haciendo en la reunión de hoy?Good morning, sir. What are we doing in today's meeting?
- ¡Hola amigos! ¿Qué estamos haciendo hoy?Hi, friends! What are we doing today?
- ¿qué hacemos ahora?what are we doing now?
- Ya llegamos, ¿qué hacemos?We have arrived, what are we doing?
- No hay plan, ¿qué hacemos?There is no plan, what are we doing?
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are standing in a crowded city center.
- MaríaEstamos perdidos, ¿qué hacemos?We are lost, what are we doing?
- AlejandroBusquemos un mapa en el teléfono.Let's look for a map on the phone.
- MaríaNo tengo señal aquí.I don't have a signal here.
- AlejandroEntonces, preguntemos a alguien.Then, let's ask someone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
