Do you of have ever thought what the phrase que hace means in English? That is a phrase you might hear throughout Spain and it varies in its meaning between, well, a few. Let’s get into it and check out its various meanings.
Understanding „Que Hace“
Literal Translation
literally means ‘que hace’ is the same as ‘what does.’ But this does not offer you the complete picture. It in fact is much more dependent on the situation.
Contextual Meanings
Asking about Actions
Of all the functions of ‘que hace’, probably its most frequent application is to inquire about another’s activities. For instance, instead of using the bits and pieces type of instruction, which may include such instructions as, “Tell me what you are doing here?” you might say, ¿Qué haces aquí? (What are you doing here?).
Expressing Surprise or Wonder
It is also used to answer the question “¿qué hace?” (what does it do?) The phrase also shows expressions or surprise or wonder. For example, you might want to make the following word chains: ‘¡Qué hizo aquí mi gatito?’ (What is my cat doing here!).
Greeting or Inquiry
In some regions it can also be used in casual context such as “que hace”; which translates to “what is up”? It is as close as saying ‘howdy’. in English.
Examples and Usage
Let’s look at some examples of how „que hace“ is used in different contexts:
Asking about Actions
Common Phrases:
„¿Qué haces?“ (What are you doing?)
„¿Qué haces aquí?“ (What are you doing here?)
”What do you do during the weekend?” Zaremba: How busy are you during the weekend?
Dialogue Examples:
Friend 1: „¿Qué haces en la cocina?“
Friend 2: „Estoy preparando la cena.“
Expressing Surprise or Wonder
Common Phrases:
„¡Qué hace aquí mi perro!“ (What is my dog doing here!)
„¡Qué hace ese ruido!“ (What is that noise!)
Dialogue Examples:
Person 1: „¡Qué hace aquí tu ex!“
Person 2: I don’t know, I was surprised to see him.
Greeting or Inquiry
Common Phrases:
„¿Qué hace?“ (What’s up?)
„¿Qué hace por aquí?“ ‘What are you doing here around?’
Dialogue Examples:
Person A: „¿Qué hace?“
Person B: „Nada, solo dando un paseo.“
Similar Spanish Expressions
While „que hace“ is a common phrase, there are other similar expressions you might encounter:
„Qué Estás Haciendo“
This is a politer way of asking a person the question of what he is doing.
„A Qué Te Dedicás“
This may be used to touch base with someone and inquire from them of their job or source of income.
SOME USEFUL POINTERS WHEN LEARNING AND EMPLOYING “QUE HACE”
Practice Regularly
There is nothing as helpful as practicing a sentence every time you want to utter it in a conversation so that you feel free to use it.
Immerse Yourself in Spanish
Aside from learning Spanish at school, try the Spanish movies, music, and books to make exposure to the language and its coloring.
Frequent Mistakes, Mistakes We Should Never Be Afraid to Make
Learning any new language is not easy and people do make some errors while practicing the language. Do not let yourself shrink away from applying “que hace” while listening even if your pronunciation or usage of the phrase is not accurate.
Conclusion
Now let me explain how the said Spanish phrase,” que hace” is used and have multiple meanings: That means it can be used when you ask about someone’s activities, when you are surprised or even while greeting. The more you use Spanish in your daily life and commence to comprehend it as it is – the language, the more you’ll familiarize with the phrases such as “que hace” and use it correctly.
FAQs
Is it correct to use “que hace” to formulate a question or is it used just in statement?
Indeed it is used to form a question as well as a statement or phrase “que hace” Depends on the environment and how you are going to stress that word.
Que hace = What does it do in English with the same sense and in what context is it mostly used.
That said, there’s no direct English equivalent for “que hace;” it can mean “what are you doing?” or “what is that?” or even “what’s up?”
