Want to know what are you doing in different languages? This simple everyday question is useful for travelers, language learners, international friendships, texting, and anyone curious about how people communicate around the world.
Below, you’ll find exactly 70 languages with the natural phrase, an easy English pronunciation, a short real-life example, and the English meaning.
The translations focus on conversational usage rather than rigid word-for-word translations, because the most natural way to ask a question can vary by language and context.
What Are You Doing in Different Languages: 70 Translations
| # | Language | Native phrase | Easy English pronunciation | Real-life example | English meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | What are you doing? | wut ar yoo DOO-ing | What are you doing right now? | What are you doing right now? |
| 2 | Spanish | ¿Qué estás haciendo? | kay es-TAS ah-SYEN-doh | ¿Qué estás haciendo ahora? | What are you doing now? |
| 3 | French | Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? | kes kuh too fay | Qu’est-ce que tu fais ce soir ? | What are you doing tonight? |
| 4 | German | Was machst du? | vas makhst doo | Was machst du gerade? | What are you doing right now? |
| 5 | Italian | Cosa stai facendo? | KOH-zah stai fay-CHEN-doh | Cosa stai facendo adesso? | What are you doing now? |
| 6 | Portuguese | O que você está fazendo? | oo kee voh-SAY es-TAH fah-ZEN-doh | O que você está fazendo agora? | What are you doing now? |
| 7 | Dutch | Wat ben je aan het doen? | vat ben yuh aan ut doon | Wat ben je aan het doen? | What are you doing? |
| 8 | Swedish | Vad gör du? | vahd yer doo | Vad gör du just nu? | What are you doing right now? |
| 9 | Norwegian | Hva gjør du? | vah yer doo | Hva gjør du i kveld? | What are you doing tonight? |
| 10 | Danish | Hvad laver du? | vah LAIR-er doo | Hvad laver du lige nu? | What are you doing right now? |
| 11 | Finnish | Mitä sinä teet? | MEE-tah SEE-nah tayt | Mitä sinä teet nyt? | What are you doing now? |
| 12 | Icelandic | Hvað ertu að gera? | kvath ER-too ath YEH-ra | Hvað ertu að gera núna? | What are you doing now? |
| 13 | Irish | Cad atá tú a dhéanamh? | kad ah-too uh YEN-yiv | Cad atá tú a dhéanamh anois? | What are you doing now? |
| 14 | Welsh | Beth wyt ti’n wneud? | beth wit teen WANE | Beth wyt ti’n wneud nawr? | What are you doing now? |
| 15 | Polish | Co robisz? | tsoh ROH-bish | Co robisz teraz? | What are you doing now? |
| 16 | Czech | Co děláš? | tsoh DYEH-lash | Co děláš teď? | What are you doing now? |
| 17 | Slovak | Čo robíš? | cho ROH-bish | Čo robíš teraz? | What are you doing now? |
| 18 | Slovenian | Kaj delaš? | kai DEH-lash | Kaj delaš zdaj? | What are you doing now? |
| 19 | Croatian | Što radiš? | shtoh RAH-dish | Što radiš sada? | What are you doing now? |
| 20 | Serbian | Шта радиш? | shtah RAH-dish | Шта радиш сада? | What are you doing now? |
| 21 | Bosnian | Šta radiš? | shtah RAH-dish | Šta radiš trenutno? | What are you doing right now? |
| 22 | Bulgarian | Какво правиш? | kak-VOH PRA-vish | Какво правиш сега? | What are you doing now? |
| 23 | Macedonian | Што правиш? | shtoh PRA-vish | Што правиш сега? | What are you doing now? |
| 24 | Romanian | Ce faci? | cheh fach | Ce faci acum? | What are you doing now? |
| 25 | Greek | Τι κάνεις; | tee KAH-nis | Τι κάνεις τώρα; | What are you doing now? |
| 26 | Albanian | Çfarë po bën? | CHFAH-ruh poh ben | Çfarë po bën tani? | What are you doing now? |
| 27 | Hungarian | Mit csinálsz? | mit CHEE-nals | Mit csinálsz most? | What are you doing now? |
| 28 | Estonian | Mida sa teed? | MEE-dah sah tayd | Mida sa teed praegu? | What are you doing right now? |
| 29 | Latvian | Ko tu dari? | koh too DAH-ree | Ko tu dari tagad? | What are you doing now? |
| 30 | Lithuanian | Ką tu darai? | kah too dah-RAI | Ką tu darai dabar? | What are you doing now? |
| 31 | Russian | Что ты делаешь? | shtoh tih DEH-lah-yesh | Что ты делаешь сейчас? | What are you doing right now? |
| 32 | Ukrainian | Що ти робиш? | shcho tih ROH-bish | Що ти робиш зараз? | What are you doing now? |
| 33 | Belarusian | Што ты робіш? | shtoh tih ROH-bish | Што ты робіш зараз? | What are you doing now? |
| 34 | Armenian | Ի՞նչ ես անում։ | inch es AH-noom | Ի՞նչ ես անում հիմա։ | What are you doing now? |
| 35 | Georgian | რას აკეთებ? | ras ah-KEH-teb | რას აკეთებ ახლა? | What are you doing now? |
| 36 | Turkish | Ne yapıyorsun? | neh yah-puh-YOR-soon | Ne yapıyorsun şimdi? | What are you doing now? |
| 37 | Azerbaijani | Nə edirsən? | nah eh-DEER-sen | Nə edirsən indi? | What are you doing now? |
| 38 | Persian | چه کار میکنی؟ | cheh kar mee-KOH-nee | الان چه کار میکنی؟ | What are you doing now? |
| 39 | Arabic | ماذا تفعل؟ | MA-tha TAF-al | ماذا تفعل الآن؟ | What are you doing now? |
| 40 | Hebrew | מה אתה עושה? / מה את עושה? | mah ah-TAH OH-seh / mah at OH-sah | מה אתה עושה עכשיו? | What are you doing now? |
| 41 | Hindi | तुम क्या कर रहे हो? / कर रही हो? | tum kya kar ra-HAY ho / ra-HEE ho | तुम अभी क्या कर रहे हो? | What are you doing right now? |
| 42 | Urdu | تم کیا کر رہے ہو؟ / کر رہی ہو؟ | tum kya kar ra-HAY ho / ra-HEE ho | تم ابھی کیا کر رہے ہو؟ | What are you doing right now? |
| 43 | Bengali | তুমি কী করছ? | too-mee kee KOR-chho | তুমি এখন কী করছ? | What are you doing now? |
| 44 | Punjabi | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? | too-see kee kar ra-HAY ho | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੁਣ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? | What are you doing now? |
| 45 | Gujarati | તમે શું કરી રહ્યા છો? | tuh-may shoon kuh-REE rah-YAH chho | તમે અત્યારે શું કરી રહ્યા છો? | What are you doing right now? |
| 46 | Marathi | तू काय करत आहेस? | too kai kuh-rut AH-hes | तू आत्ता काय करत आहेस? | What are you doing now? |
| 47 | Nepali | तिमी के गर्दैछौ? | tee-mee kay gard-AI-chhau | तिमी अहिले के गर्दैछौ? | What are you doing now? |
| 48 | Sinhala | ඔයා මොකද කරන්නේ? | oh-YAH moh-kah-dah kar-AN-neh | ඔයා දැන් මොකද කරන්නේ? | What are you doing now? |
| 49 | Tamil | நீ என்ன செய்கிறாய்? | nee en-nah SAY-gee-rai | நீ இப்போது என்ன செய்கிறாய்? | What are you doing now? |
| 50 | Telugu | నువ్వు ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? | noo-voo AY-mee chest-TOO-nah-voo | నువ్వు ఇప్పుడు ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? | What are you doing now? |
| 51 | Kannada | ನೀನು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯ? | nee-noo AY-noo maa-DUT-ti-dee-ya | ನೀನು ಈಗ ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯ? | What are you doing now? |
| 52 | Malayalam | നീ എന്ത് ചെയ്യുന്നു? | nee enth CHEY-yun-noo | നീ ഇപ്പോൾ എന്ത് ചെയ്യുന്നു? | What are you doing now? |
| 53 | Odia | ତୁମେ କଣ କରୁଛ? | too-may kuh-nuh kuh-ROO-chha | ତୁମେ ଏବେ କଣ କରୁଛ? | What are you doing now? |
| 54 | Assamese | তুমি কি কৰি আছা? | too-mee kee KOR-ee ah-SHA | তুমি এতিয়া কি কৰি আছা? | What are you doing now? |
| 55 | Mandarin Chinese | 你在做什么？ | nee dzai dzuo shen-muh | 你现在在做什么？ | What are you doing now? |
| 56 | Cantonese | 你做緊乜嘢？ | nay jou GAN mut-yeh | 你而家做緊乜嘢？ | What are you doing now? |
| 57 | Japanese | 何をしていますか？ | nah-nee oh shee-TEH-mas kah | 今何をしていますか？ | What are you doing now? |
| 58 | Korean | 뭐 하고 있어? | mwo ha-go ee-SUH | 지금 뭐 하고 있어? | What are you doing right now? |
| 59 | Vietnamese | Bạn đang làm gì? | ban dang lam zee | Bạn đang làm gì vậy? | What are you doing? |
| 60 | Thai | คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่? | koon gam-lang tam ah-RAI yoo | ตอนนี้คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่? | What are you doing right now? |
| 61 | Indonesian | Kamu sedang apa? | KAH-moo suh-DANG ah-pah | Kamu sedang apa sekarang? | What are you doing now? |
| 62 | Malay | Awak sedang buat apa? | AH-wak suh-DANG boo-at AH-pah | Awak sedang buat apa sekarang? | What are you doing now? |
| 63 | Tagalog | Anong ginagawa mo? | ah-NONG gee-na-GAH-wah mo | Anong ginagawa mo ngayon? | What are you doing now? |
| 64 | Javanese | Kowe lagi apa? | KOH-weh LAH-gee AH-pah | Kowe lagi apa saiki? | What are you doing now? |
| 65 | Swahili | Unafanya nini? | oo-na-FAHN-yah NEE-nee | Unafanya nini sasa? | What are you doing now? |
| 66 | Afrikaans | Wat doen jy? | vat doon yay | Wat doen jy nou? | What are you doing now? |
| 67 | Zulu | Wenzani? | wen-ZAH-nee | Wenzani manje? | What are you doing now? |
| 68 | Xhosa | Wenza ntoni? | wen-zah NTON-ee | Wenza ntoni ngoku? | What are you doing now? |
| 69 | Māori | Kei te aha koe? | kay teh AH-ah koy | Kei te aha koe ināianei? | What are you doing now? |
| 70 | Haitian Creole | Kisa w ap fè? | kee-SAH wap fay | Kisa w ap fè kounye a? | What are you doing right now? |
How to Say “What Are You Doing?” in Different Languages
The most useful translation is not always a literal word-for-word version. Languages have their own grammar, conversational habits, and levels of politeness.
For example, Spanish has ¿Qué estás haciendo?, but ¿Qué haces? can also be a natural way to ask someone what they are doing. English speakers may similarly use “What are you up to?” in casual conversation.
When learning a new language, focus on the phrase that native speakers would naturally use in the situation you have in mind.
What Are You Doing in Different Languages for Texting?
This question is especially common in text messages and casual chats.
A friend might ask what you are doing because they want to start a conversation, make plans, or simply check in. In many languages, informal versions are shorter than formal textbook constructions.
If you are texting someone, consider the relationship before choosing your wording. A relaxed phrase is suitable for friends, while a polite construction may be more appropriate for strangers, teachers, customers, or professional contacts.
What Are You Doing Around the World?
The idea behind the question is universal, but languages express it differently.
Some languages emphasize an action happening at the exact moment of speaking. Others can use a simple present construction that naturally communicates the same idea.
Pronouns, gender, politeness, and regional usage can also influence the final wording. Hindi and Urdu, for example, can change the verb according to gender. Hebrew has different forms depending on the gender of the person being addressed.
That is why understanding what are you doing around the world involves more than memorizing translations. Context helps you choose the expression that sounds natural.
What Are You Doing in All Languages: Important Language Differences
There is no single phrase that works identically across all languages.
In some languages, a casual form is the standard choice among friends. In others, a more explicit grammatical structure is preferred when describing something happening right now.
Some languages also have multiple ways to express the question depending on whether you want to ask about an activity, occupation, plans, or someone’s current situation.
For language learners, this distinction is important. “What are you doing?” can mean:
- What activity are you doing right now?
- What are you busy with?
- What are your plans?
- What are you up to?
- What is your current occupation?
The surrounding conversation determines the intended meaning.
Tips for Learning These “What Are You Doing?” Translations
Start with the language you use most often rather than trying to memorize all 70 expressions simultaneously.
Learn the native phrase, practice its pronunciation, and then create three or four simple sentences around it. Adding words such as “now,” “today,” “tonight,” or “at home” can make the phrase much easier to remember.
It is also important to learn whether the expression is formal or informal. Using the correct level of politeness can make your conversation sound much more natural.
Why Is “What Are You Doing?” Useful for Language Learners?
“What are you doing?” is one of the most practical questions for beginners because it opens a conversation without requiring complicated vocabulary.
You can use it to ask about someone’s current activity, start a casual chat, make plans, or practice present-tense grammar.
Once you know the question, you can build a larger vocabulary by learning common answers such as “I am working,” “I am studying,” “I am eating,” “I am relaxing,” or “I am going home.”
Frequently Asked Questions About What Are You Doing in Different Languages
1. How do you say “What are you doing?” in different languages?
Examples include ¿Qué estás haciendo? in Spanish, Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? in French, Was machst du? in German, Cosa stai facendo? in Italian, Что ты делаешь? in Russian, 你在做什么？ in Mandarin Chinese, 何をしていますか？ in Japanese, and 뭐 하고 있어? in Korean.
2. What is “What are you doing?” in all languages?
There are thousands of languages worldwide, so it is not practical to list every language in one guide. This article provides 70 languages with native phrases, pronunciation help, examples, and English meanings.
3. What is the easiest way to learn “What are you doing?” in another language?
Choose one language, memorize its natural conversational phrase, practice saying it aloud, and use it in several everyday sentences. Repetition in realistic situations is usually more effective than memorizing isolated vocabulary.
4. Is “What are you doing?” formal or informal?
It depends on the language and the specific phrase. Many languages distinguish between casual and polite speech. Before using a translation with someone you do not know well, check which form is appropriate for the situation.
5. Does “What are you doing?” also mean “What are you up to?”
Yes. In casual English, “What are you up to?” often has a similar meaning. Other languages may also have informal expressions that are more natural among friends than a literal translation of “What are you doing?”
Conclusion
Learning what are you doing in different languages is a simple and practical way to build everyday vocabulary.
With 70 translations, pronunciation guides, and real-life examples, you can quickly find the expression you need for conversation, travel, texting, or language study.
The best approach is to learn the phrase in context. Once you understand how native speakers use it, you can move beyond memorization and begin using the question naturally.
I am Danny James, an Administrator at LingoHives, passionate about languages, communication, and cultural diversity. I enjoy helping people discover languages, understand words, and connect with different cultures through simple, useful, and engaging content.
