10 Ways To Ask "What's Wrong?" In Spanish: The Essential Guide To Tone, Nuance, And Regional Slang (2025 Update)

Learning how to express concern in Spanish is one of the most critical steps in mastering conversational fluency. As of December 2025, the biggest mistake English speakers continue to make is attempting a literal, word-for-word translation of "What's wrong?" which often results in a nonsensical or grammatically incorrect phrase. The correct approach requires understanding the subtle difference between verbs like pasar (to happen) and tener (to have), as well as recognizing the crucial role of personal pronouns and tone to convey genuine empathy.

The phrase you choose depends entirely on the context: Are you speaking to a close friend, a child, or a colleague? Is the problem emotional, physical, or situational? This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential Spanish phrases, their literal meanings, and the specific social scenarios where they are used across Latin America and Spain, ensuring you sound natural and compassionate.

The 10 Essential Phrases for "What's Wrong?" in Spanish

To achieve topical authority, you must move beyond the single translation and embrace the situational nuance. Here are the most effective and current ways to ask "What's wrong?" in Spanish, categorized by common usage and level of formality.

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Level 1: The Universal and Most Common Phrases

These phrases are the safest and most widely understood across almost all Spanish-speaking countries, from Colombia to Spain. They are your conversational foundation.

• 1. ¿Qué te pasa?
  • Literal Meaning: What is happening to you?
  • Usage: This is the most common and versatile way to express concern to someone you address informally (using tú). It works for emotional distress, physical pain, or a sudden change in mood.
  • Formal Version: Use ¿Qué le pasa? when addressing a superior, an elder, or someone you don't know well (using usted).
• 2. ¿Qué tienes?
  • Literal Meaning: What do you have?
  • Usage: Very common in Latin America, this phrase often implies a physical ailment or a temporary emotional state, like being sick or upset. It’s slightly more direct than ¿Qué te pasa?
• 3. ¿Pasa algo?
  • Literal Meaning: Is something happening? / Is something going on?
  • Usage: A softer, less accusatory way to inquire. It’s perfect when someone seems withdrawn or preoccupied, but you don't want to pressure them. It's a simple yes/no question that invites a longer explanation.
• 4. ¿Todo bien?
  • Literal Meaning: Everything good? / All well?
  • Usage: This is the functional equivalent of "Are you okay?" in English. It's a quick, non-intrusive check-in, often used as a greeting when someone looks slightly off. The common reply is "Sí, todo bien" (Yes, everything is fine).

Level 2: Context-Specific and More Direct Phrases

These phrases are used when the situation is more serious, or you need to be very explicit about the problem.

• 5. ¿Qué sucede?
  • Literal Meaning: What is happening? / What is occurring?
  • Usage: More formal than ¿Qué pasa? and often used to ask about a situation or event rather than a person's emotional state. For example, if there is a commotion or a crowd gathering.
• 6. ¿Cuál es el problema?
  • Literal Meaning: What is the problem?
  • Usage: While grammatically correct, this can sound a bit confrontational or impatient, especially without a warm tone. Use it carefully, perhaps in a professional or logistical context rather than an emotional one.
• 7. ¿Estás bien?
  • Literal Meaning: Are you well?
  • Usage: The most direct way to ask "Are you okay?" It's a vital phrase for safety or health checks. If the person is clearly injured or crying, this is the most compassionate starting point.
• 8. ¿Qué te ha sucedido?
  • Literal Meaning: What has happened to you?
  • Usage: This uses the present perfect tense (ha sucedido) and is common in Spain. It implies the problem is a recent event that has a current impact on the person.

Regional Slang and Colloquialisms: Sounding Like a Local

To truly achieve topical authority and sound like a native speaker, you must learn the regional variations. The context of Spanish regional slang is constantly evolving, so using these phrases shows you are up-to-date with current language trends.

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Mexico and Central America

• 9. ¿Qué onda?
  • Literal Meaning: What wave? (Figurative: What's the vibe?)
  • Usage: While it primarily means "What's up?" (a casual greeting), the tone can shift its meaning entirely. If said with a frowning face and a serious tone, it immediately becomes "What's wrong?" or "What's going on?" in a concerned way. This is a crucial example of how tone and body language dictate meaning.
• ¿Qué pedo? (Vulgar/Very Informal)
  • Usage: This is a very vulgar version of ¿Qué onda? used among extremely close friends, often in Mexico. It translates roughly to "What's the fart?" but functions as "What's up?" or "What's wrong?" Use with extreme caution, as it is highly inappropriate in formal settings.

Spain (Peninsular Spanish)

• 10. ¿Pero qué pasa?
  • Literal Meaning: But what is happening?
  • Usage: The addition of "Pero" (but) adds emphasis and a sense of urgency or surprise, making it a very common way to ask "What's wrong?" in Spain, especially when reacting to a noticeable issue or noise.

Other Regional Entities

• Panama: A common slang expression is ¿Qué Xo? (pronounced "keh sho"), a very informal way to ask "What's up?" or "What's wrong?"
• Argentina/Uruguay: While ¿Qué te pasa? is still dominant, the use of voseo (using vos instead of tú) means you might hear ¿Qué te pasa a vos? or ¿Qué tenés? (using the vos conjugation of tener).

Avoiding Common Grammatical Mistakes (LSI Keywords)

A common pitfall for English speakers is attempting a literal translation, which leads to grammatical errors. By understanding these concepts, you can sound more natural and avoid the common student traps.

• Mistake 1: Literal Translation of "Wrong"
  • The Error: Trying to translate "wrong" using words like mal or equivocado. For example, "What is wrong?" becoming ❌ ¿Qué está mal? or ❌ ¿Qué es equivocado?
  • The Fix: ¿Qué está mal? translates to "What is incorrect?" and is used for an answer on a test or a broken object, not a person's emotional state. The correct approach is to use the verb pasar (to happen) or tener (to have), as seen in the list above. The verb equivocarse is only used to mean "to be mistaken" or "to make an error," not to ask about someone's distress.
• Mistake 2: Confusing Ser and Estar
  • The Error: Using Ser (permanent state) instead of Estar (temporary state). For example, ❌ ¿Cómo eres? (What are you like? - personality).
  • The Fix: Always use Estar when asking about a temporary feeling or condition. The question ¿Estás triste? (Are you sad?) uses estar because sadness is a temporary emotional state, which is the underlying reason you are asking "What's wrong?"

In summary, the most effective way to ask "What's wrong?" in Spanish is to internalize the phrase ¿Qué te pasa? for informal settings and ¿Qué le pasa? for formal ones. By combining these core phrases with an awareness of regional slang like ¿Qué onda? in Mexico and the crucial difference between pasar and estar, you will communicate concern with genuine fluency and cultural competence.