How to Say "What Are We?" in Spanish

¿qué somos?

The English phrase "what are we?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué somos?

This phrase is used specifically to clarify the level of commitment or the definition of a romantic relationship between two people.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the opening question mark ¿, the interrogative pronoun qué (what) and the verb somos (we are).

Depending on the country, a person might avoid ¿qué somos? and instead ask ¿qué onda entre nosotros?, which uses the slang word onda meaning 'wave' to ask about the 'vibe' of the relationship.
While ¿qué somos? asks for a label, Spanish speakers often use the term estamos quedando to describe the ambiguous phase before this question is ever asked.
The verb somos shares the same ancient root as the English word 'am', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁smós.

Oye, ¿qué somos tú y yo? / No sé, ¿somos amigos o algo más?
Hey, what are you and I? / I don't know, are we friends or something more?
Ya llevamos mucho tiempo juntos, ¿qué somos nosotros? / Creo que somos más que amigos, pero debemos hablarlo.
We have been together for a long time, what are we? / I think we are more than friends, but we must talk about it.
Me gustaría aclarar cuál es nuestra relación laboral. / Claro, podemos discutirlo en la reunión de la próxima semana.
I would like to clarify what our professional relationship is. / Sure, we can discuss it in next week's meeting.
No sé qué somos, pero te quiero.
I don't know what we are, but I love you.
Después de tanto tiempo, ¿qué somos?
After so much time, what are we?

María and Javier are sitting in a quiet cafe discussing their relationship.

María

Javier, ¿qué somos?
Javier, what are we?
Javier

No estoy seguro de qué quieres decir.
I am not sure what you mean.
María

Quiero saber si somos novios.
I want to know if we are boyfriend and girlfriend.
Javier

Sí, yo también quiero ser tu novio.
Yes, I want to be your boyfriend too.

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