What does it mean word for word?
The word demonios literally means 'demons', and it is used in this context to provide the same kind of emphasis as 'heck' or 'hell' does in English.
Which one should you use?
You can use ¿Qué demonios dices? to express a similar sense of disbelief by using the simple present tense instead of the continuous form. For a different level of intensity, you might use ¿Qué rayos estás diciendo? to mean 'what on earth are you saying?' or ¿Qué carajo estás diciendo? to mean 'what the hell/fuck are you saying?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be milder and less aggressive, use the informal ¿Qué rayos estás diciendo?, which uses the word for 'lightning bolts'. Conversely, ¿Qué carajo estás diciendo? is considered slang and is much more vulgar and strong.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ¿Qué demonios estás diciendo? uses the present continuous form estás diciendo to focus on an action that is happening at this exact moment. Alternatively, using the simple present dices in the phrase ¿Qué demonios dices? is also common and carries a similar meaning.
Did you know?
- While ¿Qué demonios estás diciendo? is a common way to express frustration, a person in Spain might instead use ¿Qué narices estás diciendo? to mean 'what the nose are you saying?'
- The vulgar word carajo originally referred to the 'crow's nest' or the lookout's perch on a sailing ship.
- Depending on the region, using demonios can sound like a dubbed translation from an English movie rather than natural street speech, as locals often prefer regional slang.
Examples in context
- No te entiendo, ¿qué demonios estás diciendo?I don't understand you, what the heck are you saying?
