What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (what), debería (I should/ought to) and hacer (to do).
Which one should you use?
You might use ¿qué hay que hacer? to ask what needs to be done in a more general or impersonal sense, focusing on the necessary action rather than your personal responsibility. If you want to ask specifically for advice in an informal way, you can use ¿Qué me aconsejas? (What do you advise me?).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the pronoun yo (I) is optional and often omitted because the verb conjugation debería already indicates the first-person singular. For example, you can say ¿qué debería hacer yo? Additionally, replacing the conditional debería with the present indicative debo in the phrase ¿qué debo hacer? changes the tone, making the question sound more urgent or implying a sense of obligation (what must I do?) rather than just seeking advice.
Did you know?
- The verb hacer is used in the expression hacerse el sueco, which means to pretend not to understand a situation to avoid acting.
- In Spanish, using the word hacer to describe the weather, such as hace frío (it is cold), translates literally to 'it does cold'.
- The first-person form of hacer, hago, may have been influenced by the Latin agō, which is also the root of the English word 'gesture'.
Examples in context
- Estoy perdido, ¿qué debería hacer?I am lost, what should I do?
- No sé el plan, ¿qué debería hacer?I don't know the plan, what should i do?
Example conversation
Alejandro is asking Lucía for advice regarding a broken appliance.
- AlejandroLa lavadora no funciona, ¿qué debería hacer?The washing machine is not working, what should i do?
- LucíaDeberías llamar al técnico pronto.You should call the technician soon.
- Alejandro¿Y si es muy caro?And what if it is very expensive?
- LucíaEntonces busca otro especialista, Alejandro.Then look for another specialist, Alejandro.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hacer, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
