What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the preposition de (of), the interrogative qué (what) and the pronominal verb tratarse (to be about/to be a matter of). Literally, it means "of what does it treat itself?"
Which one should you use?
While ¿de qué se trata? is common, you can also say ¿Se trata de qué? without altering the meaning. In terms of tone, ¿de qué se trata? asks about a topic, but can also function as a way to ask "what is going on?" in a more suspicious or curious tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear people say ¿De qué se trata? In Spain, the informal phrase ¿De qué va? is widely used and understood.
How do you pronounce it?
/de ˈke se ˈtɾata/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition de at the beginning, but in Spanish, the verb tratarse requires de to mean "to be about".
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 pound sterling.
- The word tratar in ¿de qué se trata? also means 'to treat' a patient or 'to negotiate' a deal, showing how Spanish links the idea of a topic to the act of handling something.
- The word trata comes from the verb 'tratar', which is also the root for the Spanish word 'trato', meaning a 'deal' or an 'agreement'.
Examples in context
- ¿De qué se trata la película?What is the movie about?
- Vi un anuncio, pero ¿de qué se trata?I saw an ad, but what is it about?
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing a new TV show.
- DanielLucía, vi que hay una serie nueva.Lucía, I saw there is a new series.
- LucíaSí, es muy emocionante.Yes, it is very exciting.
- Daniel¿De qué se trata?What is it about?
- LucíaTrata de un detective en Madrid.It is about a detective in Madrid.
