“What are you doing?” is a simple question, but it can be a bit tricky to get the hang of in Spanish. Luckily, with a bit of practice and some basic Spanish knowledge, you’ll be able to ask this question and understand the response in no time.
To start, it’s important to learn some basic Spanish phrases for “What are you doing?” There are a few different ways to ask this question in Spanish, depending on the context and level of formality. Some common phrases include “¿Qué estás haciendo?” and “¿Qué haces?” for informal situations, and “¿Qué está haciendo?” and “¿Qué hace?” for more formal situations.
Once you’ve got the basic phrases down, it’s important to understand Spanish grammar and conjugation. Spanish verbs change depending on the subject and tense, so it’s important to know how to conjugate the verb “hacer” (to do/make) in order to ask “What are you doing?” correctly.
Basic Spanish Phrases for “What Are You Doing?”
If you’re looking to ask someone what they’re doing in Spanish, there are a few key phrases you’ll want to know. Depending on the situation, you may want to use a more formal or informal tone. Here are some common phrases to help you get started:
Informal Inquiries
If you’re asking a friend or someone you’re familiar with, you’ll likely want to use an informal tone. Here are a few ways to ask “What are you doing?” informally:
- ¿Qué estás haciendo? (What are you doing?)
- ¿Qué haces? (What are you up to?)
- ¿En qué estás? (What are you working on?)
- ¿En qué andas? (What are you up to?)
Formal Questions
If you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well or someone in a professional setting, you may want to use a more formal tone. Here are some phrases to help you ask “What are you doing?” formally:
- ¿Qué está haciendo? (What are you doing?)
- ¿Qué anda haciendo? (What are you up to?)
- ¿En qué trabaja? (What do you do for work?)
- ¿Cuál es su ocupación? (What is your occupation?)
It’s important to note that Spanish has both formal and informal ways of addressing people, so be sure to use the appropriate form of “you” (tú or usted) depending on the situation.
Spanish Grammar and Conjugation
When we ask somebody “¿Qué estás haciendo?”, we use the present progressive in Spanish. Although, this is not a tense, it’s important to know how to use to make sentences. In this section, we will cover the basics of Spanish grammar and conjugation to help you learn how to say “What are you doing?” in Spanish.
Conjugation for ‘Hacer’
The verb “hacer” is commonly used when asking someone what they are doing. Here is a table that shows the conjugation of “hacer” in the present progressive:
| Pronoun | Verb Conjugation (HACER) |
|---|---|
| Yo | estoy haciendo |
| Tú | estás haciendo |
| Él / Ella / Usted | está haciendo |
| Vos* | estás haciendo |
| Nosotros / -as | estamos haciendo |
| Ellos / -as / Ustedes | están haciendo |
| Vosotros / -as | estáis haciendo |
→ What is the Difference Between “Tú” and “Usted” in Spanish?
How do you respond to ‘¿Qué estás haciendo?’ in Spanish?
To respond to “¿Qué estás haciendo?” in Spanish, you can say “Estoy…” followed by your current activity. In this case, you will have to use a verb in the gerund, here is a table with a few verbs:
| Infinitive Verb | Gerund |
| trabajar (to work) | trabajando |
| comer (to eat) | comiendo |
| ir (to go) | yendo |
| buscar (to look for) | buscando |
| comprar (to buy) | comprando |
| mirar (to look) | mirando |
| hablar (to speak) | hablando |
| escribir (to write) | escribiendo |
| tratar (to try) | tratando |
Spanish Examples and Usage
Asking “What are you doing?” in Spanish is a common phrase that you may use in everyday conversations. Here are some practical examples and usage of the phrase:
Common Situations
- If you want to catch up with a friend, you can ask “¿Qué estás haciendo?” or “¿Qué haces?” which means “What are you doing?” This can be a good conversation starter and help you learn more about their life.
- In a work setting, you can use “¿Qué estás haciendo?” or “¿En qué estás trabajando?” to check in with a colleague and see what they are working on. This can be especially useful if you are collaborating on a project.
Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Regions
It’s important to note that there are variations of the phrase “What are you doing?” across different Spanish-speaking regions. For example, in Argentina, it’s common to use “¿Qué hacés?” instead of “¿Qué haces?“
When speaking with one person, you would use the singular form of the verb “hacer”. However, if you are speaking with multiple people, you would use the plural form “¿Qué hacen?” or “¿Qué están haciendo?“
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ask someone about their current activity in Spanish?
To ask someone about their current activity in Spanish, you can say “¿Qué estás haciendo?” or “¿Qué haces?” for informal situations. For formal situations, you can say “¿Qué está haciendo?” or “¿Qué hace?”.
What’s the Spanish phrase for inquiring about someone’s plans tonight?
To inquire about someone’s plans tonight in Spanish, you can say “¿Qué planes tienes para esta noche?” or “¿Qué vas a hacer esta noche?”.
How can you say ‘good morning, how are you doing?’ in Spanish?
To say “good morning, how are you doing?” in Spanish, you can say “buenos días, ¿cómo estás?”.
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