¿de qué están hablando?
In Spanish, "what are you guys talking about?" is translated as ¿de qué están hablando?
This phrase is used to ask a group of people about the subject of their current conversation.
Which one should you use?
While ¿de qué están hablando? is the standard way to address a group, you can also use the present simple form ¿De qué hablan? to ask the same question. This version often implies a more general or habitual state of conversation. Additionally, ¿Sobre qué están conversando? serves as a more formal alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal form ¿de qué estáis hablando? is used to address a group of people. In most of Latin America, the ustedes form used in ¿de qué están hablando? is the standard way to address a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ¿de qué están hablando? uses the ustedes form of the verb. In Spain, the vosotros form ¿de qué estáis hablando? is used for informal address.
Did you know?
- The word qué is derived from the Latin word quid, which is also the root of the English word 'quid' used as slang for a British pound sterling.
- Depending on the tone, asking ¿de qué hablan? can be used sarcastically to imply that the group is talking nonsense or saying things that are obviously untrue.
- While hablar means 'to talk', Spanish speakers often use it in the phrase hablar por hablar, which means talking just for the sake of talking without a real purpose.
Examples in context
- Oigan, ¿de qué están hablando?Hey, what are you guys talking about?
Example conversation
Mateo walks into the room where María and a friend are whispering.
- Mateo¿De qué están hablando?What are you guys talking about?
- MaríaNo es nada, Mateo.It is nothing, Mateo.
- MateoParece un secreto importante.It seems like an important secret.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, es solo una broma.Don't worry, it is just a joke.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
