qué demonios
/ke demonjos/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the English phrase "what the hell" is expressed as qué demonios.
This phrase is used to add intensity to a question, typically to express surprise, frustration or anger.
Meaning: an intensive form of what (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally translated as "what demons."
Which one should you use?
A common synonym for qué demonios is qué diablos, which can be translated as "what the devil".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
qué demonios is an informal way to add emphasis to a question.
Did you know?
- While qué demonios is common, speakers in Spain often use the phrase qué narices to express the same feeling. This literally translates to 'what noses' and is a softer, less religious way to say 'what the hell'.
- In some Latin American countries, the phrase qué rayos is used instead of qué demonios. This translates to 'what lightning bolts' and is a common way to avoid mentioning demons or the devil.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, using qué demonios can sound slightly old-fashioned or theatrical, like a line from a dubbed movie.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué demonios es eso?What the hell is that?This sentence is useful for asking what something is.Tatoeba #5102036 by ecorralest101, translation #1183788 by Scott
- ¿Qué demonios haces aquí?What the hell are you doing here?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is doing in a location.Tatoeba #1142158 by alexmarcelo, translation #1358573 by marcelostockle
- ¿Qué demonios haces en mi auto?What the hell are you doing in my car?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is doing in a vehicle.Tatoeba #6441721 by Barra, translation #13441298 by frpzzd
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel find a strange object in the living room.
- María¿Qué demonios es esto, Daniel?What the hell is this, Daniel?
- DanielNo tengo idea de qué es.I have no idea what it is.
- MaríaParece un juguete viejo.It looks like an old toy.
- DanielQuizás sea de tu hermano.Maybe it belongs to your brother.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
