¿a qué te dedicas?
The English phrase "what do you do for a living?" is translated into Spanish as ¿a qué te dedicas?
This phrase is used to ask someone about their job or profession. Using ¿a qué te dedicas? specifically refers to one's occupation, which helps avoid ambiguity with phrases like ¿Qué haces?, which can often mean "What are you doing?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "To what do you dedicate yourself?"
Which one should you use?
¿a qué te dedicas? is used for a single person in an informal context, whereas ¿a qué se dedican? is used when asking a group of people about their professions.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a single person formally, use ¿a qué se dedica? To address a group of people, use ¿a qué se dedican?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid translating "for a living" literally as "para vivir". Saying ¿Qué haces para vivir? sounds unnatural in Spanish. Use ¿a qué te dedicas? instead.
Did you know?
- If you accidentally use the phrase para vivir from the English 'for a living', a Spanish speaker will likely think you are asking how they physically survive or stay alive.
- In professional settings, Spaniards often use the noun profesión or oficio to answer ¿a qué te dedicas?, but the two words distinguish between university-trained jobs and skilled trades.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿a qué te dedicas? too early in a conversation can be seen as an attempt to gauge a person's social status.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are meeting for the first time at a party.
- AlejandroMucho gusto, María. ¿A qué te dedicas?Nice to meet you, María. What do you do for a living?
- MaríaSoy arquitecta, ¿y tú, Alejandro?I am an architect, and you, Alejandro?
- AlejandroYo soy profesor de historia.I am a history teacher.
- María¡Qué interesante profesión!What an interesting profession!
