what have you been up to
in Spanish¿Qué has hecho?
/keh ahs EH-choh/
This is the most direct and common way to ask what someone has been doing recently. It's a friendly, all-purpose phrase perfect for catching up with friends, family, or colleagues you know well.
Catching up with a friend is the perfect time to ask, '¿Qué has hecho?' or '¿En qué andas?'
💬Other Ways to Say It
¿Qué has estado haciendo?
/keh ahs ehs-TAH-doh ah-see-EN-doh/
This is the most literal translation of 'What have you been doing?'. It puts a little more emphasis on the continuous nature of the activities over a period of time. It's very similar to '¿Qué has hecho?' but slightly longer and a tiny bit more formal-sounding.
¿En qué andas?
/en keh AHN-dahs/
A very common and casual phrase, literally meaning 'In what are you walking?'. It's used to mean 'What are you up to?' or 'What are you into these days?'. It can refer to right now or the general present.
¿Qué te cuentas?
/keh teh KWEN-tahs/
This is the go-to phrase in Spain. It literally means 'What do you tell yourself?' but is used to mean 'What's new with you?' or 'What's the story?'. It's an invitation to share recent news.
¿Qué es de tu vida?
/keh ehs deh too VEE-dah/
Literally 'What is of your life?', this phrase is used when you haven't seen someone in a while. It implies you want a bigger update than just what they did last weekend.
¿Cómo has estado?
/KOH-moh ahs ehs-TAH-doh/
While it technically means 'How have you been?', it serves the exact same social function as 'What have you been up to?'. It's a general, friendly question to open a conversation and invite an update on their life.
¿En qué has andado?
/en keh ahs ahn-DAH-doh/
This is the past tense version of '¿En qué andas?'. It specifically asks what someone has been up to in the recent past, making it a closer match to the English phrase.
¿Qué hay de nuevo?
/keh EYE deh NWEH-voh/
Meaning 'What's new?', this is a classic, slightly less personal way to ask for an update. It's friendly and works in a wide variety of contexts.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Choosing the right phrase depends on your relationship, region, and how long it's been since you last spoke. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué has hecho? | Informal | A general, all-purpose question for friends you see somewhat regularly. | In very formal settings or with complete strangers. |
| ¿En qué andas? | Casual | Very relaxed situations with close friends, especially in Latin America. | Talking to your boss, an elderly person, or anyone you'd show respect to. |
| ¿Qué te cuentas? | Informal | Catching up with friends and acquaintances in Spain; it's the standard there. | Outside of Spain, where it might sound a bit unnatural. |
| ¿Qué es de tu vida? | Informal | Reconnecting with someone you haven't seen in a long time (months or years). | Asking someone you saw last week; it will sound strange and overly dramatic. |
📈Difficulty Level
The sounds are generally straightforward for English speakers. The 'h' in 'hecho' and 'has' is silent, which is an easy rule to remember.
This requires using the present perfect tense ('haber' + past participle), which is an intermediate grammar concept. Learners need to know how to form 'has hecho', 'has estado', etc.
Choosing the right phrase based on region (e.g., '¿Qué te cuentas?' in Spain) and relationship (e.g., '¿Qué es de tu vida?' for old friends) requires some cultural awareness.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering the different regional variations.
- Mastering the present perfect tense ('he has hecho').
- Knowing when to use a casual vs. a more neutral phrase.
💡Examples in Action
¡Hola, Ana! ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Qué has hecho últimamente?
Hi, Ana! Long time no see! What have you been up to lately?
Oye, primo, ¿en qué andas? ¿Sigues trabajando en el mismo lugar?
Hey, cousin, what have you been up to? Are you still working at the same place?
¡Hombre, Pablo! ¿Qué te cuentas? No te veo desde la fiesta de Lucía.
Hey, Pablo! What's new? I haven't seen you since Lucia's party.
Me encontré con mi ex-profesora y me preguntó: 'Carlos, ¿qué es de tu vida?'.
I ran into my former teacher and she asked me: 'Carlos, what's become of your life?'.
🌍Cultural Context
It's More Than Just a Greeting
In Spanish-speaking cultures, asking what someone has been up to is often a genuine invitation to connect, not just a formulaic greeting. People generally expect a real, albeit brief, answer. It's a way of showing you care and want to maintain the relationship.
The Expected Level of Detail
The depth of the expected answer depends heavily on your relationship. A close friend might expect a 5-minute story, while an acquaintance might just want a one-sentence summary like '¡Todo bien, mucho trabajo!' ('All good, lots of work!'). Pay attention to the context to gauge how much to share.
Using 'Vos' in Conversation
In countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America, you'll hear these phrases with 'vos' instead of 'tú'. For example, '¿En qué andás?' is already in the 'vos' form. You might also hear '¿Qué contás?' instead of '¿Qué te cuentas?' This is a key regional difference to listen for.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Literal (and Wrong) Translation
Mistake: "Trying to translate 'up to' directly, like '¿Qué has estado hasta?'."
Correction: ¿Qué has hecho? or ¿En qué andas?
Confusing Past and Present
Mistake: "Using '¿Qué haces?' to ask 'What have you been up to?'."
Correction: Use '¿Qué has hecho?' for the recent past.
Using '¿Qué es de tu vida?' Too Casually
Mistake: "Asking a coworker you see every day, '¿Qué es de tu vida?'."
Correction: Use a lighter phrase like '¿Qué tal todo?' or '¿Qué hay de nuevo?'.
💡Pro Tips
Lead With a Warm Greeting
These questions rarely stand alone. Always start with a greeting like '¡Hola!' or '¡Qué tal!'. For someone you haven't seen in a while, add '¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte!' ('Long time no see!') before asking what they've been up to.
Always Be Ready to Answer Back
After they answer your question, the conversation ball is back in your court. Be prepared to ask follow-up questions or, most importantly, to answer when they inevitably ask you back with '¿Y tú?' ('And you?').
Match Their Level of Formality
Listen to how others greet each other. If you're in a professional setting and hear people using the more formal 'usted' (e.g., '¿Cómo ha estado?'), stick to that. In a casual setting with friends, use the informal 'tú' versions.
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
The use of '¿Qué te cuentas?' is a hallmark of casual Spanish from Spain. It's incredibly common and signals a friendly, informal interaction. The 'vosotros' form would be '¿Qué os contáis?' when addressing a group of friends.
Mexico
Mexico has a rich variety of informal greetings. '¿En qué andas?' and its past-tense version '¿En qué has andado?' are extremely common. The slang '¿Qué onda?' is ubiquitous among friends but should be avoided in formal contexts.
Argentina & Uruguay
The defining feature is the use of 'voseo' (the pronoun 'vos'). Verbs are conjugated differently, so you get 'andás' instead of 'andas' and 'contás' instead of 'cuentas'. This is essential for sounding natural in this region.
Caribbean (e.g., Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic)
The Caribbean has very distinct, fast-paced slang. '¿Qué es la que hay?' (PR) and '¿Qué lo qué?' (DR) are extremely informal greetings among locals. For a safer, more standard option, '¿Cómo has estado?' works perfectly.
📱Texting & Social Media
¿Qué has hecho?
WhatsApp, social media comments, text messages.
Hey! q has hecho? hace mucho no hablamos
Hey! what have you been up to? we haven't talked in a long time
¿Qué tal?
Used as a quick, all-purpose greeting that covers 'how are you' and 'what's up'.
q tal? todo bien?
what's up? all good?
¿Qué onda?
Very common in Mexico and some Central American countries for informal chats.
q onda wey, en q andas?
what's up dude, what are you up to?
💬What Comes Next?
After you ask what they've been up to.
Pues no mucho, lo de siempre.
Well not much, the usual.
Bueno, ¿y cómo va todo en el trabajo/la escuela?
Well, and how is everything going at work/school?
They give you a short answer and turn the question back to you.
Todo bien. ¿Y tú? ¿Qué has hecho?
All good. And you? What have you been up to?
¡Igual! He estado ocupado con un nuevo proyecto. Te cuento...
Same! I've been busy with a new project. Let me tell you...
🔄How It Differs from English
In English, 'What have you been up to?' is a very standard, one-size-fits-all phrase. In Spanish, the best phrase to use is much more dependent on the region (e.g., Spain vs. Mexico), the relationship between the speakers, and how long it has been since they last saw each other. There isn't one single perfect translation, but rather a toolkit of options for different social situations.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: This translates to '¿Qué haces?', which asks about someone's actions at this exact moment, not in the recent past.
Use instead: Use '¿Qué haces?' if you call a friend and want to know what they are doing right now. Use '¿Qué has hecho?' to ask what they have been doing over the last few days or weeks.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say 'long time no see'
This is the perfect phrase to use right before you ask '¿Qué has hecho?'.
How to say 'and you?'
After they answer, you'll need to know how to respond when they ask you the same question.
How to say 'I've been busy'
This is one of the most common ways to answer the question 'What have you been up to?'.
How to say 'what's up'
Explore other informal greetings that overlap with 'what have you been up to'.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: what have you been up to
Question 1 of 3
You run into an old friend from college who you haven't seen in five years. Which phrase is most appropriate?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between '¿Qué has hecho?' and '¿Qué has estado haciendo?'
They are very similar and often interchangeable. '¿Qué has estado haciendo?' puts a bit more emphasis on the continuous nature of the activity, like 'What have you been keeping busy with?'. '¿Qué has hecho?' is more of a general 'What activities have you done?'. In everyday conversation, the difference is minimal.
How do I answer '¿Qué has hecho?'?
You can give a short or long answer. A simple response is 'No mucho, lo de siempre.' ('Not much, the usual.'). Or you can share something specific: 'He estado trabajando mucho en un proyecto nuevo.' ('I've been working a lot on a new project.'). Always end with '¿Y tú?' ('And you?').
Is it okay to use '¿En qué andas?' with my boss?
It's best to avoid it unless you have a very informal and friendly relationship. '¿En qué andas?' is quite casual. A safer option for a boss or supervisor would be the more neutral '¿Cómo ha estado?' (using the formal 'usted').
Can I just say '¿Qué tal?' instead?
Yes, absolutely! '¿Qué tal?' is a fantastic, versatile greeting that works like 'How's it going?' or 'What's up?'. It's a bit less specific than 'What have you been up to?', but it serves the same purpose of starting a friendly conversation and inviting a small update.
Why do some people say '¿Qué contás?' in Argentina?
This is due to 'voseo', the use of the pronoun 'vos' instead of 'tú'. In Argentina and some other Latin American countries, verbs are conjugated differently for 'vos'. So, 'tú cuentas' becomes 'vos contás'. It means the same thing as '¿Qué te cuentas?' but is the grammatically correct and natural form for that region.
What if I use the wrong regional phrase? Will people be offended?
No, people will not be offended! They will understand you're a learner. At most, they might find it a little amusing, correct you gently, or just appreciate that you're making an effort to speak their language. It's always better to try and communicate than to stay silent for fear of making a mistake.
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