Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say What Are You Up To in Spanish
¿Qué Haces? · verb · keh AH-sehs
The casual question 'what are you up to?' has several natural Spanish equivalents: '¿Qué haces?' (what are you doing?), '¿En qué andas?' (what are you involved in?), and '¿Qué andas haciendo?' (what are you up to?). The choice depends on region and level of informality.
For '¿Qué haces?' pronounced keh AH-sehs. The 'h' in haces is silent. For '¿En qué andas?' pronounced ehn keh AHN-dahs.
Oye, ¿qué haces? ¿Quieres salir esta noche?
Hey, what are you up to? Do you want to go out tonight?
What Are You Up To in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for what are you up to, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué haces? | what are you up to | keh AH-sehs | Default, widely understood |
| ¿Qué andas haciendo? | what are you up to | Latin America informal | |
| ¿En qué andas? | what are you up to | colloquial | |
| ¿Qué tal? | what are you up to | Spain casual greeting |
How Native Speakers Use ¿Qué Haces?
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Text message
¿En qué andas? Te escribo para ver si quieres ir al cine.
What are you up to? I'm writing to see if you want to go to the movies.
Casual text conversation between friends.
Phone call
Hola, ¿qué andas haciendo? ¿Estás ocupada?
Hi, what are you up to? Are you busy?
Checking availability before making plans.
Running into someone
¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Qué has estado haciendo últimamente?
Long time no see! What have you been up to lately?
Catching up with someone you haven't seen.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using ¿Qué Haces?
Overly literal translation
Incorrect: ¿Qué estás arriba a?
Correct: ¿Qué haces?
The English 'up to' is idiomatic and cannot be translated literally; it requires a natural Spanish equivalent like '¿Qué haces?'
Too formal for context
Incorrect: ¿A qué se dedica usted en este momento?
Correct: ¿Qué haces? / ¿En qué andas?
This overly formal phrasing sounds unnatural for a casual check-in; informal register requires simpler expressions.
Lock in What Are You Up To Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See ¿Qué Haces? used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ¿Qué haces? in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Oye, ¿qué haces? ¿Quieres salir esta noche? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About What Are You Up To in Spanish
- Is '¿Qué haces?' too direct?
- In Spanish-speaking cultures, '¿Qué haces?' is perfectly natural and casual, equivalent to 'what are you doing?' without any sense of interrogation or suspicion that it might carry in English.
- How do I respond to '¿Qué haces?'
- Common responses include 'aquí, nada' (here, nothing), 'aquí nomás' (just here), 'pues trabajando' (well, working), or simply describing your current activity casually.
- What if I want to ask about future plans specifically?
- For asking about upcoming plans rather than current activity, use '¿Qué planes tienes?' (what plans do you have?) or '¿Qué vas a hacer?' (what are you going to do?) to be more specific about the future.