What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition con (with), the interrogative pronoun quién (who) and the verb estás (you are). Literally, it translates to "With whom are you?"
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the level of formality and the number of people being addressed. Use ¿con quién estás? for a single person in an informal setting. For a single person in a formal setting, use ¿Con quién está usted? or ¿Con quién se encuentra? If you are asking a group of people who they are with, use the plural form ¿con quién están?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Argentina, you may hear the variation ¿Con quién andái? In Uruguay, the variation ¿Con quién venís? is more common.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the formal "you" (usted), change the verb from estás to está to ask "Who are you with?" in a polite or respectful manner. To ask a group of people who they are with, change the verb to the plural form están.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying ¿Quién estás con? While English allows the preposition to be placed at the end of a sentence, in Spanish, the preposition con must come before the pronoun quién.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the verb andar (to walk) is used in ¿Con quién andái? to mean 'who are you with?' This implies a sense of hanging out or strolling rather than just a static state of being.
- In Uruguay, the phrase ¿Con quién venís? uses the verb 'to come' to ask who is accompanying someone. This frames the arrival or the journey as the primary focus of the question.
- The Spanish pronoun quién is derived from the Latin quem, which was the accusative form of the interrogative pronoun.
Examples in context
- ¿Con quién estás en la fiesta?Who are you with at the party?
- No te veo, ¿con quién estás?I don't see you, who are you with?
Example conversation
Alejandro calls Lucía while she is out at a cafe.
- AlejandroHola, Lucía, ¿con quién estás?Hello, Lucía, who are you with?
- LucíaEstoy con una amiga nueva.I am with a new friend.
- AlejandroAh, entiendo. Te dejo entonces.Ah, I see. I will leave you then.
- LucíaGracias, Alejandro. Hablamos luego.Thanks, Alejandro. We'll talk later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, quién, CC BY-SA 4.0.
