Spanish Phrase
¿Qué metas tienes para el futuro?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone about the objectives or ambitions they have set for the coming years. It is a common way to start a deeper conversation about personal plans, career aspirations, or life dreams.
When to use
Use this question in informal or semi‑formal settings when you want to learn more about a friend’s or colleague’s long‑term plans—during a coffee chat, a networking event, or a language‑exchange session.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quémetastienesparaelfuturo?
¿Qué?
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', always carries an accent to differentiate from the conjunction 'que'.
metas
Plural noun meaning 'goals' or 'targets'; feminine, so the article 'las' would be used in other contexts.
tienes
Second‑person singular present of the verb *tener* (to have). Used for informal 'you'.
para
Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to', introducing a purpose or destination.
el futuro
Noun phrase meaning 'the future'; *futuro* is masculine, so it takes the article *el*.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué metas tienes para el futuro?
What goals do you have for the future?
Quiero terminar mi maestría, abrir mi propio estudio de diseño y viajar por Sudamérica.
I want to finish my master’s degree, open my own design studio, and travel around South America.
✕Common Mistakes
Que metas tienes para el futuro?
Missing the accent; *qué* is the interrogative pronoun, while *que* is a conjunction.
¿Qué metas tiene para el futuro?
Using the formal *tiene* with a friend sounds stiff; match the verb form to the level of familiarity.
¿Qué metas tienes para futuro?
Dropping the article changes the nuance; *el futuro* refers to the specific future, while *futuro* alone can sound abstract.
↔Alternatives
¿Cuáles son tus objetivos para el futuro?
What are your objectives for the future?
¿Qué planes tienes a largo plazo?
What long‑term plans do you have?
¿Qué sueñas lograr en los próximos años?
What do you dream of achieving in the coming years?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cultures, talking about future goals is often linked to family expectations and professional stability. It’s polite to show genuine interest and, if appropriate, share a bit of your own plan. In formal contexts, you might replace the informal *tienes* with *tiene* and add a courtesy title (e.g., *¿Qué metas tiene usted para el futuro?*).