¿qué te pasa?
/ˈke te ˈpasa/word by word
The English phrase "what is wrong with you?" can be translated into Spanish as ¿qué te pasa?
This phrase is used to ask someone why they are acting strangely or to inquire about what is bothering them. While it can be a genuine inquiry about a person's well-being, it is frequently used with a specific tone to express annoyance or to ask "what is wrong with you?" in a confrontational way.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ¿qué te pasa? translates to "what happens to you?"
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context and the person you are addressing, you may use different forms. ¿Qué te pasa? is a common way to ask what is wrong, whereas ¿Qué te sucede? conveys concern and is suitable for casual conversations. You might also use ¿Qué tienes? informally to ask about someone's condition, which translates to "what do you have?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To adjust for the number of people you are addressing, use ¿qué les pasa? when asking what is wrong with a group of people. For a single person in a formal context, use ¿qué le pasa? instead of ¿qué te pasa?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈke te ˈpasa/
Did you know?
- While ¿qué te pasa? asks what is wrong, the word pasa also means 'raisin' in Spanish.
- If you ask ¿qué pasa? without the te, it ceases to be a question about someone's mental state and becomes a general greeting like 'what's up?'
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a slightly prolonged 'a' sound at the end of ¿qué te pasaaa? can turn the phrase from a question into a sarcastic exclamation of disbelief.
Examples in context
- Te noto muy triste, ¿qué te pasa?I notice you are very sad, what is wrong with you?
- ¿Qué te pasa? Estás muy callado.What is wrong with you? You are very quiet.
Example conversation
María notices that Daniel is acting unusually quiet and upset.
- MaríaDaniel, te veo muy raro, ¿qué te pasa?Daniel, you look very strange, what is wrong with you?
- DanielNo es nada, María, solo estoy cansado.It is nothing, María, I am just tired.
- MaríaNo te creo, ¿qué te pasa realmente?I don't believe you, what is really wrong with you?
- DanielTengo un problema en el trabajo.I have a problem at work.
