You’re standing there, maybe in a bustling market in Madrid or a quiet cafe in Buenos Aires, and you want to know someone's opinion. It seems simple. You open your translator app, type in the phrase, and get a result. But honestly, if you just blurt out a literal translation, you might get a blank stare or, worse, a polite nod that means they have no idea what you’re actually getting at.
Language isn't a math equation.
When people search for what do you think in Spanish, they usually want the literal words, but what they actually need is the cultural context that makes those words mean something. If you’re talking to a boss, a best friend, or a stranger on the street, the "right" way to ask changes completely. It’s about more than just vocabulary; it’s about the vibe.
The basic way most people mess up
The most common translation you'll see is ¿Qué piensas? It’s fine. It’s grammatically perfect. But it’s also kinda dry. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿Qué piensas? sounds like you’re asking for a deep, philosophical meditation on the nature of the universe. If you just want to know if someone likes your new shoes, it’s overkill.
Usually, people use the verb creer (to believe) instead of pensar (to think) when asking for an opinion.
¿Qué crees? sounds much more natural in a casual setting. It’s like saying "What do you reckon?" instead of "What is your formal assessment?"
Then you have the regional quirks. If you’re in Mexico, you might hear ¿Qué te parece? This is the gold standard. It literally translates to "How does it seem to you?" and it works in almost every situation. It’s safe. It’s versatile. It’s the Swiss Army knife of Spanish opinion-seeking.
Why context is the real king
Imagine you’re out with friends and you’re trying to decide which movie to watch. You wouldn’t say, "I desire to know your thoughts on this cinematic production." You’d say, "What do you guys think?" In Spanish, you’d likely go with ¿Qué les parece? or even something as short as ¿Cómo lo ven? (How do you see it?).
Short. Punchy. Real.
If you’re in a professional meeting, though, you’ve gotta pivot. You’re not just asking for a "thought"; you’re asking for a "point of view." That’s where punto de vista comes in. You might ask, ¿Cuál es su punto de vista sobre este tema? Notice the use of su instead of tu. That’s the formal "you," and it carries a lot of weight. Using the wrong one is like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. It’s awkward for everyone involved.
Regional flavors that change everything
Spanish isn't a monolith. The way someone asks for an opinion in Bogotá is going to sound different than in Seville.
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In Argentina and Uruguay, where the voseo (using vos instead of tú) is the norm, you’ll hear ¿Qué pensás? with the accent on the last syllable. It sounds melodic. It’s distinct. If you use the standard Spanish tú form there, they’ll know what you mean, but you’ll sound like a textbook.
Across the pond in Spain, the use of ¿Qué te parece? is ubiquitous, but you’ll also hear ¿Cómo lo ves? quite a bit. It’s more visual. It’s about the perspective.
The Mexican "Ondas"
In Mexico, slang is the lifeblood of conversation. You might hear someone ask, ¿Qué onda con esto? While ¿Qué onda? usually means "What's up?", using it with con esto turns it into "What do you think about this?" or "What’s the deal with this?" It’s super informal. Don’t use it with your grandmother-in-law unless she’s particularly cool.
- Formal situations: Stick to ¿Qué opina usted? or ¿Qué le parece?
- Friends: Go with ¿Qué piensas? or ¿Cómo lo ves?
- Groups: ¿Ustedes qué dicen? (What do you guys say?)
How to sound like a native (not a robot)
The biggest giveaway of a non-native speaker is a lack of filler words. When asking what do you think in Spanish, natives rarely just drop the question and stop. They cushion it.
"Oye, una pregunta, ¿qué te parece esto?"
(Hey, a question, what do you think of this?)
See that? The "Oye" and "una pregunta" act as social lubricant. They signal that a question is coming. Without them, you’re just a person shouting inquiries at people.
Another trick is using the verb parecer with a pronoun.
- Me parece que... (It seems to me that...)
- ¿Te parece bien? (Does it seem okay to you?)
This structure is everywhere. If you master parecer, you master the art of the Spanish opinion. It’s less aggressive than yo pienso (I think). In many Spanish-speaking cultures, directness can sometimes be perceived as rudeness. Using parecer softens the blow. It makes the conversation a collaborative dance rather than a cross-examination.
The subtle power of "A ver"
Before asking for an opinion, many people start with "A ver," which means "Let's see."
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"A ver, ¿tú qué piensas de lo que dijo Juan?"
It buys you a second of time. It sets the stage. It makes you sound like you’re actually engaged in the flow of the conversation. If you can pepper your speech with these small, almost meaningless phrases, your "what do you think" will sound a thousand times more authentic.
Avoiding the "Traducción" trap
Translation software has gotten better, but it still struggles with nuance. If you type "What do you think?" into a basic translator, it might give you ¿Qué se le ocurre? This technically means "What occurs to you?" or "What do you suggest?" It's fine for brainstorming, but it's weird if you're just asking for an opinion on a taco.
You have to think about the goal of the question.
Are you asking for:
- Approval? Use ¿Te gusta? (Do you like it?)
- A decision? Use ¿Qué dices? (What do you say?)
- An analysis? Use ¿Qué opinas al respecto? (What is your opinion regarding this?)
Most learners get stuck in the ¿Qué piensas? loop. Break out of it.
The "Opinar" vs. "Pensar" debate
Real experts in linguistics will tell you that opinar is the more "correct" verb for an opinion, but pensar is what people actually use in the streets. It's like the difference between "What is your stance?" and "What do you think?" Use opinar when you're writing an essay or speaking to a professional. Use pensar or creer when you're grabbing a beer.
Nuance matters.
If you say Pienso que..., you are stating a thought process.
If you say Opino que..., you are stating a formal position.
Honestly, most of the time, you just want the person to talk. In that case, Cuéntame (Tell me) or Dime (Tell me) works wonders. Dime, ¿qué te parece? is a perfect way to open the floor.
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Common mistakes that make people cringe
Don't use ¿Qué tú piensas? in most regions. Putting the tú before the verb in a question is a very specific Caribbean trait (think Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic). In Mexico, Colombia, or Spain, it sounds "off." They’ll understand you, but it’s a grammatical fingerprint that screams "I'm a learner."
Instead, just say ¿Qué piensas? The "you" is already baked into the verb conjugation. That’s the beauty of Spanish. It’s efficient.
Also, watch out for the "of" vs. "about" distinction.
In English, we say "What do you think of this?"
In Spanish, you say ¿Qué piensas de esto? Do not use sobre (about) unless you are being very formal. ¿Qué piensas sobre la economía? is fine. ¿Qué piensas sobre mi sombrero? is weird. Just use de. It's simpler. It's better.
Social cues and body language
In many Spanish-speaking countries, asking for an opinion is accompanied by a specific set of gestures. A slight tilt of the head. An upturn of the palms. If you stand there like a statue while asking ¿Qué te parece?, it feels a bit cold. Spanish is a physical language. Use your hands. Lean in.
And remember, the answer might not be a direct "yes" or "no."
Spanish speakers often use a lot of words to get to the point. If you ask what do you think in Spanish and you get a five-minute story about the person's uncle, don't get frustrated. That's the opinion. The story is the answer.
Putting it into practice
The best way to get comfortable with this isn't by memorizing a list. It's by listening to how people around you are actually speaking.
If you're watching a Netflix show in Spanish (like Casa de Papel or Club de Cuervos), pay attention to how the characters ask for input. You'll notice they rarely use the "textbook" version. They use the shortcuts. They use the slang.
Next Steps for Mastery:
- Listen for the verb parecer: It's the most common way to ask for an opinion. Start using ¿Qué te parece? instead of ¿Qué piensas? and see how people react.
- Match your formality: Use usted forms (¿Qué le parece?) with older people or in business, and tú forms (¿Qué te parece?) with people your own age.
- Observe the "cushioning": Notice how people start their questions with phrases like A ver or Oye. Try to add one of these to your next conversation.
- Pay attention to "creer": Try using ¿Qué crees? when you want a more casual, "what do you reckon" feel.
- Watch for regionalisms: If you know you're going to a specific country, look up the local slang for "What's up" or "What's the deal." It usually overlaps with asking for an opinion.
Learning how to ask for an opinion is really about learning how to listen. Once you put the question out there, the real learning begins. Pay attention to the structure of the response. Often, the person will use the same verb you used in their answer. If you ask ¿Qué crees?, they’ll likely start with Creo que... This is the easiest way to learn new grammar—just parrot back what you hear. It’s not cheating; it’s how humans learn.