What are you doing?
in Spanish¿Qué haces?
/keh AH-sehs/
This is the most common and direct way to ask a friend, family member, or someone your age 'What are you doing?'. It can refer to what they're doing right now, or what they do in general (like for work).
Asking '¿Qué haces?' is a perfect, natural way to start a conversation when you see a friend engaged in an activity.
💬Other Ways to Say It
¿Qué estás haciendo?
/keh ehs-TAHS ah-see-EHN-doh/
This is the direct equivalent of the English 'What are you doing?' and specifically asks about an action happening *at this very moment*. It's slightly more precise than '¿Qué haces?'.
¿Qué hace usted?
/keh AH-seh oos-TEHD/
This is the formal version, used when you need to show respect. 'Usted' is the formal 'you'.
¿En qué andas?
/ehn keh AHN-dahs/
A very friendly and common alternative that's closer to 'What are you up to?' or 'What have you been up to?'. It's less about a specific task and more about their general current activities.
¿Qué hacen ustedes?
/keh AH-sehn oos-TEH-dehs/
This is how you ask a group of people (two or more) 'What are you all doing?'. In Latin America, it's used for any group, friends or strangers. In Spain, it's considered formal.
¿Qué hacés?
/keh ah-SEHS/
This is the 'voseo' version of '¿Qué haces?'. In some regions, 'vos' is used instead of 'tú' for 'you'. It means the exact same thing but is a key feature of Rioplatense Spanish.
¿Qué hacéis?
/keh ah-THEYS/
This is the informal plural used in Spain, the equivalent of 'What are you guys doing?'. It's the plural form of '¿Qué haces?' using 'vosotros'.
¿Qué te cuentas?
/keh teh KWEHN-tahs/
Literally 'What do you tell yourself?', this is a very colloquial way of asking 'What's new?' or 'What's up?'. It's an invitation to share news or stories.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right phrase based on who you're talking to and what you mean.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué haces? | Informal | A flexible, all-purpose question for friends and family about their general or current activity. | Speaking to bosses, elders, or strangers where respect is required. |
| ¿Qué estás haciendo? | Neutral | Specifically asking what someone is doing at this exact moment. | You want to ask about general life updates; it's too specific for that. |
| ¿Qué hace usted? | Formal | Showing respect to someone you don't know, an elder, or a superior. | Chatting with close friends or children, as it would sound stiff and distant. |
| ¿En qué andas? | Casual | A friendly, relaxed 'What are you up to?' with people you know well. | Formal or professional situations; it's too colloquial. |
📈Difficulty Level
The sounds are straightforward for English speakers. The 'h' is silent and the 'c' in 'haces' can be an 's' sound (most of Latin America) or a 'th' sound (Spain).
The main challenge is knowing which verb form to use (tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes) and understanding the subtle difference between the simple present ('haces') and present progressive ('estás haciendo').
Choosing the correct formality level is key to being polite and appropriate. Using the wrong one can make you seem rude or distant.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering to use the formal 'usted' version in appropriate situations.
- Internalizing the subtle difference between '¿Qué haces?' and '¿Qué estás haciendo?'
💡Examples in Action
Hola, amor. Solo llamaba para saber qué haces.
Hi, love. I was just calling to find out what you're doing.
¡Chicos, hay mucho ruido! ¿Qué están haciendo aquí adentro?
Guys, there's so much noise! What are you all doing in here?
Disculpe, señora. ¿Qué hace usted con ese equipo? No está autorizada.
Excuse me, ma'am. What are you doing with that equipment? You are not authorized.
¡Ey, Carlos! ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿En qué andas?
Hey, Carlos! Long time no see! What are you up to?
🌍Cultural Context
A Question and a Greeting
In Spanish, '¿Qué haces?' works both as a literal question and as a casual greeting, much like 'What's up?' in English. The expected answer can range from a detailed description of your activity to a simple 'Nada, ¿y tú?' ('Nothing, and you?').
The 'Right Now' Nuance
English speakers often overuse '¿Qué estás haciendo?'. While it's grammatically correct for actions in progress, Spanish speakers frequently use the simpler '¿Qué haces?' even for things happening at the moment. Think of '¿Qué haces?' as the flexible default and '¿Qué estás haciendo?' as the more specific 'What are you doing *right this second*?'.
Formality Matters
Choosing between 'tú' ('haces'), 'usted' ('hace'), and 'vos' ('hacés') is a big deal. Using the informal '¿Qué haces?' with someone who expects formal treatment (like an elderly person or a boss) can be seen as disrespectful. When in doubt, starting with the formal '¿Qué hace usted?' is always the safer bet.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Verb for 'Doing'
Mistake: "Saying something like '¿Qué eres haciendo?' or '¿Qué estás hacendo?' (misspelled)."
Correction: ¿Qué estás haciendo?
Forgetting Formality
Mistake: "Asking your new boss, 'Hola, ¿qué haces?'."
Correction: Buenos días, ¿qué hace usted?
Confusing 'What are you doing?' with 'How are you doing?'
Mistake: "Answering '¿Qué haces?' with 'Bien, gracias.' ('Good, thanks.')"
Correction: Answering with an activity, like 'Leo un libro' ('I'm reading a book') or 'Nada' ('Nothing').
💡Pro Tips
Tone is Everything
The way you say '¿Qué haces?' can completely change its meaning. A friendly, curious tone makes it a simple check-in. An abrupt, sharp tone can make it sound accusatory, like 'What do you think you're doing?!'. Pay attention to your intonation.
The Perfect Conversation Starter
This phrase is one of the most useful conversation starters you can learn. If you call a friend and don't know what to say, 'Hola, ¿qué haces?' is a perfect, natural way to get the ball rolling.
Master the Follow-Up
Be ready to answer the question yourself! After they answer, they will almost always ask back, '¿Y tú?' ('And you?'). Have a simple answer ready, like 'Estoy trabajando' (I'm working) or 'Voy al supermercado' (I'm going to the supermarket).
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
The use of 'vosotros' ('hacéis') for the informal plural is the biggest giveaway of Spanish from Spain. Using '¿Qué hacen?' for a group of friends will mark you as a foreigner or learner.
Mexico
Mexico has a rich variety of slang. While '¿Qué haces?' is standard, friends might greet each other with '¿Qué onda?' ('What's the vibe?') which serves a similar purpose of 'What's up?'. '¿En qué andas?' is also extremely common.
Argentina & Uruguay
The 'voseo' (using 'vos' instead of 'tú') is the defining feature. Using '¿Qué hacés?' is essential to sound natural. The intonation, often described as more 'singsongy,' is also distinct.
📱Texting & Social Media
¿Qué haces?
WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, SMS
Hey, q haces mas tarde?
Hey, what are you doing later?
¿Qué haces?
Casual texting among younger people
k aces? aburrido
what are you doing? bored
¿En qué andas?
Casual check-ins via text
todo bien? q andas?
everything good? what are you up to?
💬What Comes Next?
You ask '¿Qué haces?' and they are not busy.
Nada, aquí aburrido/a.
Nothing, just bored here.
¿Quieres hacer algo? / ¿Vemos una peli?
Want to do something? / Should we watch a movie?
You ask what they're doing and they are busy.
Estoy trabajando. / Estoy ocupado/a.
I'm working. / I'm busy.
Ah, vale. No te molesto. ¡Hablamos luego!
Ah, okay. I won't bother you. Talk to you later!
You ask what they're doing and they mention a fun activity.
Viendo una serie nueva en Netflix.
Watching a new series on Netflix.
¡Qué bueno! ¿Cuál es? ¿La recomiendas?
Nice! Which one? Do you recommend it?
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest difference is how Spanish uses the simple present tense. In English, 'What do you do?' almost always means 'What is your job?'. In Spanish, '¿Qué haces?' can mean that, but it much more frequently means 'What are you doing right now?'. English relies heavily on the present continuous ('-ing') for current actions, while Spanish is more flexible.
The question is just as direct in Spanish as it is in English. Among friends, it's a perfectly normal and common question. With strangers, just like in English, it could be perceived as a bit nosy without proper context, which is why using a polite, formal structure is important.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say 'How are you?'
This is the most common greeting that often precedes or follows 'What are you doing?'.
How to answer 'What are you doing?'
Learning simple answers like 'I'm working' or 'I'm relaxing' is the natural next step in the conversation.
How to say 'What did you do?'
Once you can ask about the present, learning to ask about the past (e.g., 'What did you do today?') is a logical progression.
How to say 'Nothing'
'Nada' is one of the most common and useful answers to '¿Qué haces?'.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: What are you doing?
Question 1 of 3
You are meeting your girlfriend's grandfather for the first time. How do you politely ask what he is doing?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between '¿Qué haces?' and '¿Qué estás haciendo?'?
Think of it this way: '¿Qué haces?' is more general. It can mean 'What are you doing right now?' OR 'What do you do for a living/in general?'. '¿Qué estás haciendo?' is ONLY for right now, for an action in progress. In casual conversation, '¿Qué haces?' is often used for both, but if you want to be specific about the present moment, use '¿Qué estás haciendo?'.
Is it rude to ask '¿Qué haces?'?
Not at all, as long as it's context-appropriate. With friends and family, it's a perfectly normal and friendly question. However, asking a stranger on the street '¿Qué hace usted?' out of the blue would be weird, just like in English. Your tone of voice also matters a lot; a sharp tone can make it sound accusatory.
How do I ask a group of people 'What are you doing?'
It depends on where you are! In Latin America, it's always '¿Qué hacen (ustedes)?' for any group. In Spain, you'd say '¿Qué hacéis?' to a group of friends (informal) and '¿Qué hacen ustedes?' to a group you need to be formal with.
What's a simple way to answer '¿Qué haces?'?
The easiest answer is 'Nada' ('Nothing'). You can also just state your activity simply, like 'Viendo la tele' ('Watching TV'), 'Cocinando' ('Cooking'), or 'Trabajando' ('Working'). Don't forget to ask back with '¿Y tú?' ('And you?').
Is '¿Qué haces?' the same as '¿Cómo estás?'?
No, they are different. '¿Cómo estás?' means 'How are you?' and asks about your well-being or mood. '¿Qué haces?' means 'What are you doing?' and asks about your current activity. They are both common greetings, but they ask for different information.
I heard people in Argentina say '¿Qué hacés?'. Why?
That's because of 'voseo', a grammatical feature in Argentina, Uruguay, and some other parts of Latin America. They use 'vos' instead of 'tú' for the informal 'you', which changes the verb form. It means the exact same thing as '¿Qué haces?', it's just the local way of saying it.
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