¿qué estás tramando?
The English phrase "what are you up to?" can be translated into Spanish as ¿qué estás tramando?
The phrase ¿qué estás tramando? is used specifically when you suspect someone is planning a prank, a surprise or some kind of mischief. It carries the connotation of someone organizing a secret or mischievous plan.
Which one should you use?
While ¿qué estás haciendo? is a neutral way to ask "what are you doing?", ¿qué estás tramando? specifically implies that the person is up to something suspicious or mischievous.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you may hear ¿Qué estás haciendo vos? where vos is used instead of tú for the second person singular. In Mexico, a commonly used expression is ¿Qué estás haciendo ahorita?
Did you know?
- The verb tramar refers to the process of weaving or spinning a web, much like a spider. When you ask if someone is tramando something, you are metaphorically asking if they are weaving a complex web of lies or secrets.
- While 'what are you up to?' can be a playful tease in English, using ¿qué estás tramando? in a professional Spanish setting could be seen as an accusation of dishonesty rather than a friendly joke.
- While the phrase is used for mischief, the word trama is also the standard Spanish term for the 'plot' of a novel or movie. This links a person's secret plan to the structural narrative of a story.
Examples in context
- Dime la verdad, ¿qué estás tramando?Tell me the truth, what are you up to?
- Veo que estás muy callado, ¿qué estás tramando?I see you are very quiet, what are you up to?
Example conversation
María finds Daniel hiding a small gift behind his back.
- MaríaTe veo muy sospechoso, Daniel. ¿Qué estás tramando?You look very suspicious, Daniel. What are you up to?
- DanielNo es nada, María, te lo juro.It's nothing, María, I swear.
- MaríaNo te creo, seguro tienes una sorpresa.I don't believe you, you surely have a surprise.
- DanielTal vez, pero no te lo puedo decir.Maybe, but I can't tell you.
