"qué diablos le pasa este tipo" (phrase I'm having difficulty understanding)

Question

This quote comes from a movie. In the scene, a hotel patron is being served breakfast by a waiter, who says "le deseo un día muy agradable" then leaves. After he has left, the patron says "qué diablos le pasa este tipo". Would someone please offer a translation of this phrase? Thank you.

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Aug 22, 2017

Answer 1

What the devil is wrong with this guy?

Thanks very much, it makes a lot of sense now - Wedgetail, Aug 22, 2017

I would have said what the hell is wrong...is devil more common? - 006595c6, Aug 22, 2017

Doesn't matter. Both mean the same thing, one translation more literal than the other. - Gekkosan, Aug 22, 2017

Don't think so. I've always heard hell. - 00fac92a, Aug 22, 2017

Some English speakers say "What the devil" when they want a milder word than "hell." (Seriously.) - jtaniel, Aug 22, 2017

I'm with JT there. Check it out: either or is widely used, and yes, for some reason "devil" is taken as milder than "hell". - Gekkosan, Aug 22, 2017

I guess in this area milder does not exist. :) - 00fac92a, Aug 22, 2017

Answer 2

"tipo" is a colloquial word for "guy". If it's a woman it's "tipa".
I , personally use it a lot. I think in Spain they use "tío/tía" a lot. We don't, although we understand it .

El tipo que vive al lado tiene mucha plata.
Carla es una tipa muy simpática.
José no es un tipo de confiar. Generalmente no cumple su palabra.
Me da mucha rabia las tipas que se creen las más lindas del mundo.

What the hell is happening with this guy?

Bloke in British English for guy. - NKM1974, Aug 22, 2017

yes, bloke - polenta1, Aug 22, 2017

Answer 3

It would be more understandable if it were "¿Qué diablos le pasa a este tipo?"

Perhaps, you missed the "a" while listening.

"What the heck is going on with that guy?"

I agree "a" or "con" - 005faa61, Aug 23, 2017

Thank you, you're probably right - Wedgetail, Aug 23, 2017