Spanish Phrase
¿Qué tienes en tu lista?
Meaning
This question asks someone to reveal the items they have written down or are planning to do. It can refer to a shopping list, a to‑do list, or any collection of tasks. The tone is neutral and works in both informal and semi‑formal settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know what someone is planning, what they need to buy, or what tasks they have pending. It’s common in casual conversations among friends, in classroom settings when checking assignments, or in a workplace when coordinating duties.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quétienesentulista
Qué (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask for information about something; always carries an accent to differentiate it from the conjunction 'que'.
tienes (present of tener)
Second‑person singular present of 'tener' meaning 'you have'; note the -s ending for tú.
en (preposition)
Introduces the location or container of something; here it links the verb to the noun 'lista'.
tu (possessive adjective)
Shows ownership; no accent is used because it is a possessive, not the interrogative 'tú'.
lista (noun)
A feminine singular noun meaning 'list'; can refer to a shopping list, to‑do list, etc.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué tienes en tu lista para hoy?
What do you have on your list for today?
Tengo que comprar leche, terminar el informe y llamar a mi mamá.
I have to buy milk, finish the report, and call my mom.
✕Common Mistakes
Que tienes en tu lista?
Missing accent changes the meaning; 'Que' is a conjunction, not a question word.
¿Qué tienes en tú lista?
Using the pronoun 'tú' instead of the possessive adjective 'tu' adds an unnecessary subject and sounds odd.
¿Qué tienes en lista?
If you mean a specific document, you might need the article 'la' before it; omitting it can be acceptable in casual speech but sounds incomplete in formal contexts.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué hay en tu lista?
What is on your list?
¿Qué contiene tu lista?
What does your list contain?
¿Qué aparece en tu lista?
What appears on your list?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, asking about someone's list is a polite way to show interest in their plans without being intrusive. Remember to match the formality: use 'tú' (as in this sentence) with friends or peers, but switch to 'usted' (¿Qué tiene usted en su lista?) in formal contexts or with strangers.