This chunk’s another easy win when it comes to sounding more Mexa. 🎉
Here’s what it means:
👉 What do you mean…? / Wait, you’re saying…?
Yep, it’s just a natural way to show surprise, disbelief, or confusion re. something you just heard.
💡 Not to be confused with ¿Como qué…?, which you’d use when asking WHAT KIND OF THING someone is talking about.
🌪️ When to whip it out
Right after someone drops some surprising, questionable, or suspicious news:
¿Cómo que ya no comes tacos?
What do you mean you don’t eat tacos anymore?!
¿Cómo que vas a renunciar a tu trabajo?
What do you mean you’re gonna quit your job?
⚠️ Tone
✅ Everyday, informal Mexican Spanish.
✅ Your tone of voice can make it sound curious, shocked, or teasing.
🚫 Not for serious, formal clarifications!
🔁 Similar chunks
¿Cómo que no?¿Cómo de que no?¿Cómo está eso de que?¿O sea que…?¿Me estás diciendo que…?¿A poco…?¿Es neta?¿Es neta que…?¿De verdad?¿En serio?¿Es en serio?¿En serio…?
Mexico City
Yucatán
Monterrey (full speed 💨)
¿Cómo que te vas a Grecia?What do you mean you’re going to Greece?
¿Cómo que no pueden tener las hamburguesas ese día? (real-life example 🎯)Wait, what do you mean they can’t have the burgers ready for that day?
¿Cómo que no trajiste tu pasaporte? ¡El avión sale en una hora!What do you mean you didn't bring your passport? The plane leaves in an hour!