¿qué están haciendo?
¿qué están haciendo? is the Spanish way to say "what are you guys doing?"
This phrase is used to ask a group of people about their current activity. You can also use the present simple form ¿Qué hacen? as a natural and common way to ask the same question.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from qué (what), están (are) and haciendo (doing).
Which one should you use?
In Spain, it is common to use the 'vosotros' form ¿qué hacéis? to address a group of people informally, whereas ¿qué están haciendo? is more common in Latin America or in formal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In various regions of Spain, people often use the pronoun vosotros instead of ustedes when addressing a group informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb están is the second-person plural form (ustedes), which is used to address a group of people.
Did you know?
- The word qué is a direct descendant of the Latin word quid, which is also the root of the English word 'quid' used as slang for a British pound sterling.
- In some regions of Colombia and Central America, speakers may use ustedes even with their own family members to show a specific kind of affection or traditional respect.
- If you ask ¿qué hacen? to a group of people who are working, it can be interpreted as asking what their profession is rather than what they are doing at that exact second.
Examples in context
- Hola, señores. ¿Qué están haciendo ustedes en este momento?Hello, gentlemen. What are you guys doing at the moment?
- ¡Hola chicos! ¿Qué están haciendo ustedes esta tarde?Hey guys! What are you guys doing this afternoon?
- Oye, ¿qué están haciendo?Hey, what are you doing?
- ¿Qué estáis haciendo vosotros?What are you guys doing?
- Hey Carlos, ¿qué andan haciendo?Hey Carlos, what are you guys up to?
- ¡Hola amigos! ¿Qué están haciendo hoy?Hi friends! What are you guys doing today?
- Oigan, ¿qué están haciendo?Hey, what are you guys doing?
Example conversation
Mateo walks into the living room and finds María and her friends.
- Mateo¿Qué están haciendo?What are you guys doing?
- MaríaEstamos planeando una fiesta.We are planning a party.
- Mateo¡Eso suena muy divertido!That sounds very fun!
- María¡Puedes ayudarnos, Mateo!You can help us, Mateo!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
