Spanish Phrase
¿Qué síntomas tienes?
Meaning
Literally, 'What symptoms do you have?' It is a direct way to ask someone about the signs they are experiencing, usually in a medical or health‑related conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are a doctor, nurse, caregiver, or a friend checking on someone's health. It works in both formal (clinic) and informal (home) settings, but keep a gentle tone if the person looks uncomfortable.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quésíntomastienes?
Interrogative pronoun Qué
Used to ask 'what' and always carries an accent (qué) when forming a question.
Noun síntomas
Plural noun meaning 'symptoms'; it follows the interrogative pronoun directly.
Verb tienes (tener)
Second‑person singular present of 'tener' (to have). In questions it stays in the same order: subject‑verb.
Inversion in questions
Spanish questions often invert the subject and verb (tienes) after the interrogative word.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué síntomas tienes?
What symptoms do you have?
Tengo fiebre, dolor de cabeza y tos.
I have a fever, a headache, and a cough.
✕Common Mistakes
Que síntomas tienes?
Missing the accent changes the meaning; 'que' is a conjunction, not a question word.
¿Qué síntomas es?
Do not use 'es' (ser) here; 'tener' is the correct verb for having symptoms.
¿Qué síntoma tienes?
Avoid using the singular 'síntoma' unless you are asking about a single sign.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué malestares presentas?
What ailments are you experiencing?
¿Cómo te sientes?
How do you feel?
¿Qué te está pasando?
What is happening to you?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries doctors often soften the question with a polite form: '¿Qué le ocurre?' (formal) or '¿Qué te pasa?' (informal). Using the formal 'le' shows respect, especially with older patients. Also, it is common to follow up with '¿Desde cuándo?' (Since when?) to get a timeline of the symptoms.