qué demonios
/ke demonjos/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'what the heck' is expressed as qué demonios.
It functions as a softer version of more vulgar expressions.
Meaning: softer form of "what the hell" (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally translated as "what demons".
Which one should you use?
Qué demonios is a milder expression compared to qué carajo, which is a much stronger and more vulgar way to say "what the hell" or "what the fuck". For an even softer alternative used to express surprise or frustration, you can use qué rayos, which literally translates to "what rays/lightning".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Qué rayos is a common, informal and softer alternative. Qué carajo is a highly informal and vulgar expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a sentence, qué demonios functions as an interjection or an intensifying adverbial phrase. It can be followed directly by a subject and verb, such as in the phrase qué demonios es esto (what the heck is this).
Did you know?
- The word carajo in the vulgar version of this phrase is believed to have originated from the 'carajo', a wooden bucket used by sailors to bail water out of a ship.
- The word qué shares its ancient roots with the English word 'what' and the Latin 'quid', meaning they are distant linguistic cousins through the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷid.
- Depending on the region, using qué demonios can sound slightly theatrical or like a translation from an English movie dub, rather than a natural spontaneous outburst.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué demonios estás haciendo?What the heck are you doing?
- ¿Qué carajo está pasando aquí?What the heck is going on here?
- ¡Pero qué demonios pasa aquí!But what the heck is happening here!
- ¿Qué demonios fue ese ruido?What the heck was that noise?
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo find a strange object in the living room.
- LucíaMateo, ¿qué demonios es esto?Mateo, what the heck is this?
- MateoNo tengo idea, Lucía.I have no idea, Lucia.
- LucíaParece que alguien lo dejó aquí.It looks like someone left it here.
- MateoQué extraño, no lo reconozco.How strange, I don't recognize it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
