¿qué es lo siguiente?
In Spanish, "what is next" is translated as ¿qué es lo siguiente?
This phrase is used to ask what event or step follows the current one.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (what), es (is), lo (the/it) and siguiente (next/following).
Which one should you use?
While ¿qué es lo siguiente? is grammatically correct, ¿qué sigue? is often more natural in spoken Spanish when asking about the next step in a sequence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear the phrase ¿Qué sigue? to ask "What is next?" and the informal phrase ¿Y ahora qué onda? to say "What now?" In Argentina, you can use ¿Qué sigue ahora? to ask "What comes next?" In Spain, it is common to use ¿Y ahora qué? to ask "What now?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb seguir (to follow) can be used in the third-person singular to express the same idea more concisely than using the phrase lo siguiente.
Did you know?
- If you are in Mexico and want to ask 'what is next' in a very casual, slangy way, you can say ¿Y ahora qué onda?, which literally translates to 'And now what wave?'
- The neutral article lo in lo siguiente functions as an 'impersonal neuter', turning the adjective 'next' into an abstract concept of 'the next thing'.
- The word siguiente shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sequential', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root sekʷ- meaning 'to follow'.
Examples in context
- Durante la reunión de negocios, el gerente preguntó: "¿Cuál es el siguiente paso?"During the business meeting, the manager asked, "What is the next step?"
- Después de completar un nivel en un videojuego, Juan exclamó: "¡Y ahora qué!"After finishing a level in a video game, Juan exclaimed, "What now?"
- Ana pregunta: "¿Y ahora qué sigue?"Ana asks, "What comes next?"
- Terminamos la primera parte, ¿qué es lo siguiente?We finished the first part, what is next?
- Terminamos esta tarea, ¿qué es lo siguiente?We finished this task, what is next?
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are organizing a workshop schedule.
- ElenaYa tenemos la lista de invitados, ¿qué es lo siguiente?We already have the guest list, what is next?
- AlejandroAhora debemos reservar el salón, Elena.Now we must reserve the hall, Elena.
- ElenaDe acuerdo, yo me encargo de eso.Alright, I will take care of that.
- AlejandroGracias, eres muy eficiente.Thank you, you are very efficient.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, lo, qué, siguiente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
