How to Say “What Do You Think?” in Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to ask for someone’s opinion is one of the most valuable skills when communicating in Spanish. Whether you’re traveling through Latin America, working with Spanish-speaking colleagues, or simply chatting with friends, knowing how to say what do you think in Spanish opens doors to meaningful conversations and shows genuine interest in others’ perspectives.

The Most Common Way to Ask What Do You Think

The most straightforward translation of what do you think in Spanish is qué piensas when speaking informally to one person. This phrase uses the verb pensar, which means to think, conjugated in the second person singular informal form. You’ll hear this expression constantly in everyday Spanish conversations, making it essential for learners to master early on.

When speaking formally or to someone you don’t know well, you would say qué piensa instead. The difference lies in the level of formality, with qué piensa using the usted form rather than the tú form. This distinction matters greatly in Spanish-speaking cultures where respect and social hierarchy play important roles in communication.

For example, if you’re asking a friend about a movie you just watched together, you might say:
¿Qué piensas de la película?
What do you think about the movie?

However, if you’re speaking with your boss or an elderly person you’ve just met, the appropriate form would be:
¿Qué piensa usted del proyecto?
What do you think about the project?

Alternative Expressions for Asking Opinions

Spanish offers numerous ways to ask for someone’s thoughts beyond the basic qué piensas. Understanding these variations will make your Spanish sound more natural and help you adapt to different contexts and regional preferences.

Using Qué Te Parece

One of the most popular alternatives is qué te parece, which literally translates to what does it seem to you but functions as what do you think in everyday usage. This expression uses the verb parecer, meaning to seem or to appear, and is incredibly common throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

The formal version would be qué le parece, used when addressing someone with usted. Many native speakers actually prefer this construction over qué piensas because it sounds slightly softer and less direct.

Example in a restaurant setting:
¿Qué te parece este restaurante?
What do you think about this restaurant?

Or in a business context:
¿Qué le parece la propuesta que presentamos?
What do you think about the proposal we presented?

Using Qué Opinas

Another common way to ask for someone’s thoughts is qué opinas, which comes from the verb opinar, meaning to give an opinion. This phrase is more direct and explicitly asks for someone’s opinion rather than just their thoughts.

The formal equivalent is qué opina. This expression works particularly well when you’re seeking a more detailed or considered response, such as in debates, discussions, or professional settings.

For instance:
¿Qué opinas sobre la situación económica?
What do you think about the economic situation?

Or when asking for advice:
¿Qué opina usted de mi plan de estudios?
What do you think about my study plan?

Regional Variations and Colloquial Expressions

Spanish is spoken across more than twenty countries, and each region has developed its own colorful ways of asking for opinions. Understanding these regional differences not only enriches your vocabulary but also helps you connect more authentically with Spanish speakers from different backgrounds.

Latin American Variations

In Mexico and parts of Central America, you might hear qué onda used casually among friends, though this literally means what wave, it often functions as a general conversation starter that can include asking for opinions in context. While not a direct translation of what do you think, it’s part of the informal opinion-seeking toolkit.

In Argentina and Uruguay, the phrase qué te parece remains popular, but you’ll also encounter vos forms instead of tú. So instead of qué piensas, you would hear qué pensás with the characteristic Rioplatense conjugation.

Example from Buenos Aires:
¿Qué pensás vos de este lugar?
What do you think about this place?

In Caribbean Spanish, particularly in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, speakers often drop the final s sound, so qué piensas might sound more like qué piensa in rapid speech, though it’s still written with the s.

Spanish from Spain

In Spain, all the phrases we’ve discussed are used, but you’ll also encounter the plural forms more frequently since Spaniards use vosotros for informal plural you. When asking a group of friends what do you think, a Spaniard would say qué pensáis or qué os parece.

Example addressing a group in Madrid:
¿Qué pensáis del nuevo profesor?
What do you all think about the new teacher?

In formal situations with multiple people, the form qué piensan or qué les parece using ustedes would be appropriate across all Spanish-speaking regions.

Adding Prepositions and Specificity

To make your questions more specific and natural-sounding, you’ll want to master the use of prepositions after asking what do you think. The most common prepositions used with these phrases are de (of/about) and sobre (about/on).

Using De and Sobre

The preposition de is by far the most common when asking for opinions. It connects your question to the specific topic you’re inquiring about. For example:

¿Qué piensas de mi idea?
What do you think about my idea?

¿Qué te parece de la música?
What do you think about the music?

The preposition sobre tends to be used with slightly more formal or serious topics, and is more common with qué opinas:

¿Qué opinas sobre este tema?
What do you think about this topic?

¿Qué piensa usted sobre la propuesta?
What do you think about the proposal?

It’s worth noting that with qué te parece, native speakers rarely use a preposition at all. The phrase works perfectly well followed directly by the noun or topic:

¿Qué te parece la comida?
What do you think about the food?

Context Matters: Formal versus Informal Settings

Choosing the right expression depends heavily on context. Understanding when to use formal versus informal language is crucial in Spanish-speaking cultures, where social dynamics and respect protocols differ significantly from English-speaking contexts.

Professional and Academic Environments

In professional settings, business meetings, or academic discussions, you should lean toward more formal constructions. Using qué opina or qué le parece with the usted form demonstrates respect and professionalism.

Appropriate for a job interview:
¿Qué opina de mi experiencia laboral?
What do you think about my work experience?

In a university seminar:
¿Qué le parece el argumento del autor?
What do you think about the author’s argument?

Casual Conversations with Friends

With friends, family members of similar age, or peers, the informal tú form is expected and appropriate. Using overly formal language with friends can create unnecessary distance or even come across as sarcastic.

Chatting with a friend:
¿Qué piensas hacer este fin de semana?
What are you thinking of doing this weekend?

Asking a classmate:
¿Qué te parece si estudiamos juntos?
What do you think about studying together?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even intermediate learners sometimes make predictable errors when asking for opinions in Spanish. Being aware of these common pitfalls will help you sound more natural and avoid confusion.

Word Order Issues

English speakers sometimes try to translate what do you think too literally, producing awkward constructions. Remember that Spanish question formation doesn’t use auxiliary verbs like do in English. The correct structure is simply qué + verb, not qué haces pensar or similar incorrect forms.

Mixing Formal and Informal

A common error is mixing formal and informal elements in the same sentence. If you start with qué piensas using the informal tú, don’t then add usted at the end. Consistency in formality level is essential.

Incorrect: ¿Qué piensas usted?
Correct: ¿Qué piensa usted? or ¿Qué piensas tú?

Forgetting Question Marks

Written Spanish requires both opening and closing question marks. While this might seem like a minor detail, proper punctuation is important for clarity and shows language proficiency.

Incorrect: Qué piensas?
Correct: ¿Qué piensas?

Expanding Your Opinion-Seeking Vocabulary

Once you’ve mastered the basics, expanding your vocabulary for asking opinions will make your Spanish more sophisticated and versatile. Here are some useful related phrases that native speakers frequently employ.

Asking for Specific Types of Feedback

Sometimes you want more than just a general opinion. You might ask for advice, impressions, or feelings about something specific. Here are some useful variations:

Cuál es tu opinión – What is your opinion
¿Cuál es tu opinión sobre este asunto?
What is your opinion about this matter?

Cómo lo ves – How do you see it
¿Cómo lo ves tú?
How do you see it?

Qué te parece si – What do you think if/about
¿Qué te parece si vamos al cine?
What do you think about going to the movies?

Estás de acuerdo – Do you agree
¿Estás de acuerdo con esta decisión?
Do you agree with this decision?

Softening Your Questions

Native speakers often soften their questions to sound more polite or less direct. Adding words like tú or a ti (to you) can make your question feel more personal and considerate:

¿A ti qué te parece?
What do you think? (emphasizing your specific opinion)

¿Tú qué piensas?
What do you think? (emphasizing you specifically)

You can also use phrases like en tu opinión (in your opinion) or desde tu punto de vista (from your point of view) to acknowledge that you’re seeking a personal perspective:

En tu opinión, ¿cuál es la mejor solución?
In your opinion, what is the best solution?

Cultural Considerations When Asking for Opinions

Understanding the linguistic forms is only part of effective communication. Cultural context plays a significant role in how and when to ask for opinions in Spanish-speaking societies.

Directness and Politeness

Generally speaking, Spanish communication styles vary by region, but many Latin American cultures value indirectness and politeness more than some English-speaking cultures do. Jumping straight to qué piensas without context or preamble might seem abrupt in some situations.

Consider leading into your question with softening phrases:
Perdona, ¿qué piensas de esto?
Excuse me, what do you think about this?

Si no te importa decirme, ¿qué te parece?
If you don’t mind telling me, what do you think?

Age and Status Hierarchies

In many Spanish-speaking cultures, age and professional status significantly influence how you should address people. When in doubt, err on the side of formality, especially with older individuals, authority figures, or new acquaintances. Using the formal usted form shows respect and is rarely perceived as too distant in appropriate contexts.

Practice Exercises to Master These Phrases

To truly internalize these expressions, regular practice is essential. Here are some practical ways to incorporate what do you think questions into your Spanish learning routine.

Daily Conversation Practice

Try to ask at least three opinion questions in Spanish each day, even if you’re just talking to yourself or writing in a journal. For example, when watching a Spanish-language show, pause and ask yourself:

¿Qué pienso del personaje principal?
What do I think about the main character?

¿Qué me parece la trama hasta ahora?
What do I think about the plot so far?

Language Exchange Applications

When using language exchange apps or speaking with native speakers, make a conscious effort to ask for their opinions using various phrases. This not only helps you practice but also encourages more engaging conversations:

¿Qué opinas de aprender idiomas en línea?
What do you think about learning languages online?

¿Qué te parece la mejor manera de practicar español?
What do you think is the best way to practice Spanish?

Responding When Someone Asks Your Opinion

Knowing how to respond appropriately when someone asks what do you think in Spanish is just as important as asking the question itself. Here are common ways to begin your response:

Pienso que – I think that
Pienso que es una buena idea.
I think it’s a good idea.

Me parece que – It seems to me that
Me parece que tienes razón.
I think you’re right.

En mi opinión – In my opinion
En mi opinión, deberíamos esperar.
In my opinion, we should wait.

Creo que – I believe that
Creo que es posible.
I think it’s possible.

Conclusion

Mastering how to ask what do you think in Spanish opens countless doors for meaningful communication and cultural connection. Whether you choose qué piensas, qué te parece, or qué opinas, understanding the nuances of formality, regional variation, and cultural context will make your Spanish sound natural and appropriate. Practice these phrases regularly, pay attention to how native speakers use them in different situations, and don’t be afraid to ask for opinions as you continue your language learning journey.