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what in the world...?

Spanish translation: ¿Qué diablos ...?

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:What in the world...?
Spanish translation:¿Qué diablos ...?
Entered by: Mónica Algazi

23:04 Nov 26, 2017
English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / expression for surprise
English term or phrase: what in the world...?
Phrase: What in the world was going on?
Document: Steampunk Adult fiction book
Readers: Adults
Country: Mexico

Translations that I was considering:
¿Qué demonios estaba pasando?
Or...
¿Qué estaba pasando?

Expect, I've never heard ANYONE from Mexico use the first expression. And since Mexico Spanish is filled with interesting expressions, I wanted to use one instead of just leaving it out. I just can't think of one that works as simply an expression of surprise. Also, the setting is in the past, around the 1800's so I can't use anything involving modern technology.

Any ideas?
Idalia Rueda (X)
United States
Local time: 05:22
¿Qué diablos ...?
Explanation:
Una opción.
Selected response from:

Mónica Algazi
Uruguay
Local time: 07:22
Grading comment
¡Gracias!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7¿Qué diablos ...?
Mónica Algazi
4 +1Pero ¿qué estaba pasando?
Liliana Garfunkel
Summary of reference entries provided
¿qué diablos...?
Charles Davis

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
¿Qué diablos ...?


Explanation:
Una opción.

Mónica Algazi
Uruguay
Local time: 07:22
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 180
Grading comment
¡Gracias!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: Exactamente lo que estaba a punto de proponer. Pondré mi respuesta como referencia.
15 mins
  -> Gracais, Charles. ¡Buena semana!
agree  lorenab23: :-) great option Moniquita!
20 mins
  -> ¡Gracias, Lorenita! : ) ¡Buena semana!
agree  Christian [email protected]
40 mins
  -> Gracias, Christian. ¡Buena semana!
agree  Paul García: Bien hecho, Mónica.
1 hr
  -> Gracias, Paul. ¡Buena semana!
agree  JohnMcDove: Sí, o "¡Qué demonios!" :-)
2 hrs
  -> De acuerdo. ¡Gracias, John!
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
9 hrs
  -> Gracias, Bea. ¡Buena semana!
agree  Robert Forstag
14 hrs
  -> Gracias, Robert. ¡Buena semana!
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
What in the world...?
Pero ¿qué estaba pasando?


Explanation:
Otra opción para diferenciarlo de "What the hell...?

Liliana Garfunkel
Argentina
Local time: 07:22
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Luximar Arenas Petty: Me gusta esta opción como alternativa ya que algunas personas simplemente no usan el infame What the hxxx...?
11 hrs
  -> Gracias, Luximar :)
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Reference comments


44 mins peer agreement (net): +4
Reference: ¿qué diablos...?

Reference information:
Mientras preparaba mi respuesta, Mónica ha puesto lo que iba a proponer, así que la pongo aquí:

This has been common for centuries; there are quite a few examples of it in Don Quijote, for example. And it was certainly used in Mexico in the nineteenth century and is still used there today.

If you want something more vulgar and contemporary, there's "¿qué chingados...?", but I think "¿qué diablos...?" is the one to use.

A recent example:

""¿Qué diablos está pasando en Colima?”, cuestiona el periodista Ruiz Healy"
http://www.centralnd.com.mx/articulos/que-diablos-esta-pasan...

And one from the mid-nineteenth century:

"¿Qué diablos nos pasa, pues, que casi nos ha convertido en momías ambulantes?"
From El renacimiento: periódico literario, Volume 2 (Mexico City, 1869), p. 81
https://books.google.es/books?id=RT1KAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA81&dq="qu...

Charles Davis
Spain
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 122
Note to reference poster
Asker: Gracias!


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  lorenab23: Wow great reference from 1869!
2 mins
  -> Thanks, Lorena :)
agree  Paul García: Good work, Charles.
41 mins
  -> Thanks, Paul :)
agree  JohnMcDove: "Y qué caray, apuro un tequila, te cargo en las ancas y nos vamos los dos P: ¡No Bernardo, contigo no voy a ningún lado!" (Les Luthiers, Serenata Mariachi...)
2 hrs
  -> Otra fuente que habría que tener en cuenta, como siempre. Me gusta "Qué caray". Gracias, John ;-)
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
9 hrs
  -> Gracias y saludos, Bea :-)
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