"Que qué"
Here is the sentence from the book I'm reading.
--Y ahora -- preguntó Susana--, ¿qué haremos?
--¿Que qué haremos? --dijo Pedro--. Ir a explorar el bosque, por supuesto.
I understand what it means well enough. What I'd like to know is if this is a standard construction and if there are other examples of how it could be used.
15 Answers
I am always editing mine after I post them, because the STUPID generated HTML code drives me crazy & I'm always trying to edit it and invariably end up making mistakes. There has got to be a better way to handle the "reply" feature . . . if anyone has any ideas'
I belong to another forum, where the site is arranged much more conveniently, especially in regards to the quote function. I wrote to Christopher about this, and sent him a link to the other forum, but I haven't heard anything back yet (this was several weeks ago). There is no need for the quote function to be so difficult to use.
James and I have the ability to post messages which we'd never write, if we could see in advance what the other has just finished writing exactly before we post our own. (What a messy sentence!)
I apologized to him privately, and I asked him to delete his message to keep the thread clean and just on topic, but it is a bit too late for that now.
You are the only people I know who can disagree about why you're agreeing. Well, you guys and my husband, ha ha ha ha!
James Santiago said:
Natasha said:
James Santiago said:
I don't really see how you're disagreeing with me, since your translation is essentially the same as mine.
Laugh Out Loud, I think Lazarus was talking to Gus, not James.
Yeah, I made my post (now deleted) before Lazarus did his extensive editing of his own post, as is his wont (grrr!). I think I must miss half of what he says, because I view his posts before he "fixes" them.
I am always editing mine after I post them, because the STUPID generated HTML code drives me crazy & I'm always trying to edit it and invariably end up making mistakes. There has got to be a better way to handle the "reply" feature . . . if anyone has any ideas'
TimEivissa said:
I love the way James automatically assumes Lazarus is disagreeing with him when the opposite is actually true!
Tim, I didn't assume it. Before he edited his post, he explicitly stated that he was disagreeing with all of us. He then changed the post (and also very kindly sent me a private comment apologizing), but only after I had replied to the first version.
TimEivissa said:
I love the way James automatically assumes Lazarus is disagreeing with him when the opposite is actually true!
Actually, I came to the thread, read a few scattered words, and I started my message saying that I disagree with EVERYONE. And just when I added the reply, I read James' comment, saying pretty much the same as mine, and I had to change it to "I disagree with Gus". In the meantime, he posted another one asking me why did I disagree with him, hehe.
I love the way James automatically assumes Lazarus is disagreeing with him when the opposite is actually true! 
Natasha said:
James Santiago said:
I don't really see how you're disagreeing with me, since your translation is essentially the same as mine.
Laugh Out Loud, I think Lazarus was talking to Gus, not James.
Yeah, I made my post (now deleted) before Lazarus did his extensive editing of his own post, as is his wont (grrr!). I think I must miss half of what he says, because I view his posts before he "fixes" them.
Lazarus said:
:
¿Que cómo lo quiero? ¡Llevamos viviendo veinte años y aún no sabes cómo lo quiero?
I'll remember that, it sounds useful!!
James Santiago said:
I don't really see how you're disagreeing with me, since your translation is essentially the same as mine.
Laugh Out Loud, I think Lazarus was talking to Gus, not James.
Like James, I disagree with you this time, Gus. This is how I'd explain it:
¿(De verdad quieres) que (te diga) qué haremos?
¿(De verdad me estás pidiendo) que (te diga) qué haremos?
(Are you really asking me) that (I tell you) what will we do? (I know it doesn't sound natural)
This is a very common colloquial way of talking in Spanish. The first "que" is a conjunction (=that), and the second is an indirect interrogative pronoun. Of course, "That what will we do'" would sound stupid in English.
¿Que cómo lo quiero? ¡Llevamos viviendo veinte años y aún no sabes cómo lo quiero?
What do you mean how do I want it? We've lived together for 20 years, and you still don't know how do I like it!'
And even further:
¿Cómo que cómo lo quiero? = ¿Cómo (es posible que me pidas) que (te diga) cómo lo quiero'
Here's the original English:
"Well, what do we do now'" Sami asked looking around.
"DO? Why go and explore the wood, of course." Peter said, half laughing.
I don't think Gus is right on this one. That is, I think it is que and not qué. I have heard this use many times, although I have never been taught a rule to cover it. The following seems close, though.
6 (uso enfático) que sí, que iré al cine contigo, of course I'll go to the cinema with you
I interpret it in your context to be a word that introduces a phrase that repeats the words of the original speaker. Sort of like "What do you mean 'what will we do''" In other words, I think it is similar to "Cómo que ..."
Gus said:
que? qué dijiste'.......... what? what did you say?
Fair enough, but that's not how it's punctuated in the book.
que? qué dijiste'.......... what? what did you say'
