¿de qué estás hablando?
The Spanish phrase for "what are you talking about?" is ¿de qué estás hablando?
This phrase is used as a question to ask for clarification or to express disbelief regarding what someone has just said.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ¿de qué estás hablando? is built from de (of/about), qué (what), estás (you are) and hablando (talking).
Which one should you use?
While ¿de qué estás hablando? uses the continuous form, you can also use the present simple form ¿de qué hablas? to mean the same thing. Additionally, ¿Qué dices? can be used to mean "What are you saying?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To address someone formally, change the verb form from estás to está, resulting in ¿de qué está hablando?
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.
- Using the formal ¿de qué está hablando? instead of the informal estás can actually make the question sound more sarcastic or condescending in an argument, rather than more polite.
- Depending on the region, the phrase ¿qué dices? can be used as a greeting to mean 'What's up?' or 'What's the news?', which is entirely different from asking for clarification.
Examples in context
- No te entiendo, ¿de qué estás hablando?I don't understand you, what are you talking about?
- Eso es mentira, ¿de qué estás hablando?That is a lie, what are you talking about?
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are discussing a strange rumor at a cafe.
- SofíaDicen que vas a renunciar.They say you are going to quit.
- Javier¿De qué estás hablando?What are you talking about?
- Sofía¡Es un rumor en la oficina!It is a rumor at the office!
- JavierEso no es verdad, Sofía.That is not true, Sofía.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
