qué onda

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what’s up, what’s going on, how’s it going
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/ke ˈonda/
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An informal Spanish greeting and question meaning “what’s up,” “how’s it going,” or “what’s going on.”

Examples

  • Mi primo llegó tarde y todos le dijeron qué onda.
    My cousin arrived late and everyone said what’s up to him.
  • En el chat del grupo, Juan puso qué onda para empezar la conversación.
    In the group chat, Juan wrote what’s up to start the conversation.
  • Cuando vio el desorden, preguntó qué onda con la sala.
    When he saw the mess, he asked what’s going on with the room.
  • María me escribió qué onda después de varios días sin hablar.
    María texted me what’s up after several days without talking.
  • Si no sabes qué pasa, puedes preguntar qué onda de manera informal.
    If it is not clear what is happening, what’s going on can be asked informally.

Similar words

¿Qué tal?
¿Qué pasa?
¿Cómo va?
¿Qué hay?
¿Qué hubo?
¿Qué hay de nuevo?

Meanings

What’s up or what’s going on

everyday
informal
Used as a casual greeting or to ask what is happening in a situation.

Examples

  • Al entrar al salón, saludé a mis amigos con un qué onda.
    When I entered the room, I greeted my friends with what’s up.
  • María me escribió qué onda después de varios días sin hablar.
    María texted me what’s up after several days without talking.
  • Cuando vio el desorden, preguntó qué onda con la sala.
    When he saw the mess, he asked what’s going on with the room.
  • En el chat del grupo, Juan puso qué onda para empezar la conversación.
    In the group chat, Juan wrote what’s up to start the conversation.
  • Si no sabes qué pasa, puedes preguntar qué onda de manera informal.
    If it is not clear what is happening, what’s going on can be asked informally.
  • Mi primo llegó tarde y todos le dijeron qué onda.
    My cousin arrived late and everyone said what’s up to him.

Similar words

Etymology

From onda, literally “wave,” used in Mexican and Latin American slang for a mood, vibe, or current situation.

FAQ

What does qué onda mean?

Qué onda means “what’s up,” “how’s it going,” or “what’s going on” in informal Spanish.

Is qué onda Mexican Spanish?

It is especially common in Mexican Spanish, and it is also understood or used in parts of Latin America.

Is qué onda formal?

No. Qué onda is casual and works best with friends, peers, and relaxed groups.

Is qué onda the same as qué pasa?

They overlap, but qué onda sounds more colloquial and can feel closer to “what’s the vibe?”

How do you answer qué onda?

Common replies include todo bien, nada, aquí nomás, or simply returning qué onda.

What does onda mean in qué onda?

Onda literally means “wave,” but in slang it can refer to a vibe, mood, or situation.

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