How to Say “What Do I Do Now?” in Spanish

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¿qué hago ahora?
The English phrase "what do I do now?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué hago ahora?
A question used to ask for instructions or guidance on the next step to take in a situation.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of qué (what), hago (I do) and ahora (now).

Which one should you use?

You may encounter other forms such as ¿Y ahora qué hago? (And now, what do I do?) or ¿Ahora qué? (Now what?). For more direct inquiries into a specific plan, ¿Cuál es mi siguiente paso? (What is my next step?) is used.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In some areas of Spain and Latin America, ¿Qué hago ahora? is an alternative to ¿Qué debo hacer ahora? particularly in informal situations. In Mexico, the informal expression ¿Y ahorita qué hago? is commonly used.

How does it change in a sentence?

While the present tense ¿qué hago ahora? is the standard way to ask for instructions, the future tense ¿qué haré ahora? can also be used to express uncertainty about future actions.

Did you know?

  • The term ahora is essentially a contraction of the Latin phrase hāc hōrā, which literally meant 'at this hour'.
  • In certain non-prestigious dialects, the older form agora still survives today, even though it was once mocked by 17th-century writers like Quevedo as a 'rustic vulgarity'.

Examples in context

  • ¿Qué debo hacer ahora que me quedé sin gasolina?
    What should I do now that I've run out of gas?
  • ¿Y ahora qué hago?
    And now what do I do?
  • ¿Qué debo hacer ahora?
    What should I do now?
  • Ya terminé el informe. ¿Qué hago ahora?
    I already finished the report. What do I do now?
  • Terminé la tarea, ¿qué hago ahora?
    I finished the homework, what do I do now?
  • No entiendo las instrucciones, ¿qué hago ahora?
    I don't understand the instructions, what do I do now?

Example conversation

Mateo is learning how to cook a new recipe with Elena.

  1. Mateo

    Ya corté todas las verduras, ¿qué hago ahora?
    I already cut all the vegetables, what do I do now?
  2. Elena

    Ahora ponlas en la sartén, Mateo.
    Now put them in the pan, Mateo.
  3. Mateo

    ¿Uso aceite o mantequilla?
    Do I use oil or butter?
  4. Elena

    Usa un poco de aceite, por favor.
    Use a little bit of oil, please.

Sources

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Charles Declan
Charles DeclanHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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