Asking the question "how do I do that?"

Question

What is the most understandable way to ask someone "how do I do that?" Or "what do I do?" -"como hago esto?" Or "lo que hacer hago?" Do I need to say the verb "hacer" twice to express my question? Thanks!

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, May 23, 2015

Answer 1

When asking "How do I do that?" the context is usually already known, so saying "eso / esto" may sound a little unnatural. It´s more common to just say: ¿Cómo lo hago?

Yes, go with Julian. - annierats, May 23, 2015

Answer 2

Hello Deana,

Welcome to the Spanish Dict forum

Thank you for filling in your basic profile details

¿Cómo lo hago? = How do I do that?

The English word do is never translated in Spanish (it is redundant) and is, to the best of my knowledge not translateable in all the romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) and probably that extends to most, if not all, widely spoken languages of the world! (It is a peculiar word in English)

What do I do? In English we really mean what must I do or what should I do (in a situation?)

= What must I do? = ¿Qué tengo que hacer? /¿Qué debo hacer?

= What should I do? = ¿Qué debería hacer?

ex: ¿Qué hago ahora! ...¡el coche está averiado y se supone que tengo que comenzar trabajo a las ocho y media, ya son las nueve menos diez de la mañana!

What do I do, now! The car has broken down and I am supposed to be at work at eight thirty and it is already ten to nine in the morning!

You also included as an option:

Lo que hacer hago.

This is not correct and it would translate as: what to do I do (literally: that which to do I do.)

I hope this helps

Excellent, although 'do' is translated, just not in its auxiliary function... ;-) - Faldaesque, May 23, 2015

Thank you very much , Falda :) - FELIZ77, May 23, 2015