how do you say about what in spanish

2 min read 15-04-2025

The English phrase "about what" doesn't have a single, direct translation in Spanish. The best way to translate it depends heavily on the context. This article will explore various scenarios and provide the most accurate and natural-sounding Spanish equivalents.

Understanding the Context: Key Scenarios

The meaning of "about what" hinges on the surrounding conversation. Are you asking for the topic of a conversation, inquiring about the subject of a book, or asking someone what they're thinking about? Let's examine these scenarios:

1. Asking for the Topic of Conversation: "¿De qué?"

This is the most common and versatile translation. "¿De qué?" literally translates to "of what?" but functions similarly to "about what?" in English.

Example: "I heard you were talking, about what?" —> "Oí que estabas hablando, ¿de qué?"

2. Inquiring About the Subject of Something: "¿Sobre qué?" or "¿De qué trata?"

"¿Sobre qué?" means "about what?" and is suitable when asking about the subject matter of a book, article, movie, or event. "¿De qué trata?" translates to "what is it about?" and is a more formal and detailed alternative.

Example (Subject of a book): "What is that book about?" —> "¿De qué trata ese libro?" or "¿Sobre qué trata ese libro?"
Example (Subject of a meeting): "What was the meeting about?" —> "¿Sobre qué fue la reunión?" or "¿De qué trató la reunión?"

3. Asking What Someone is Thinking About: "¿En qué piensas?" or "¿Qué piensas?"

If you're asking someone what's on their mind, these are more appropriate. "¿En qué piensas?" literally means "In what do you think?" while "¿Qué piensas?" simply means "What do you think?" The first option is slightly more formal.

Example: "What are you thinking about?" —> "¿En qué piensas?" or "¿Qué piensas?"

4. "About What" in a More Complex Sentence: Adapting the Translation

Sometimes, "about what" is part of a more complex sentence. In these instances, you'll need to translate the entire sentence, choosing the most appropriate word or phrase for "about what" based on the context.

Example: "I'm not sure about what to do." —> "No estoy seguro de qué hacer." (Here, "de qué" is used, but it's part of a larger structure.)
Example: "He was complaining about what happened." —> "Él se quejaba de lo que pasó." (Here, "de lo que" is used because it refers to a specific event.)

Choosing the Right Translation: A Summary

Remember, there's no single perfect translation for "about what" in Spanish. The best choice will always depend on the context. To summarize:

General topic of conversation: "¿De qué?"
Subject of something: "¿Sobre qué?" or "¿De qué trata?"
Someone's thoughts: "¿En qué piensas?" or "¿Qué piensas?"
Complex sentences: Requires careful consideration of the entire sentence structure.

By understanding these nuances, you can confidently use the correct Spanish equivalent for "about what" in any situation. Practice using these phrases in different contexts to solidify your understanding and improve your fluency.