Spanish Phrase
¿Qué música estás escuchando?
Meaning
Literally, 'What music are you listening to?' The question asks the listener to name the song, genre, or any music currently playing in their ears.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to start a conversation about someone's current soundtrack—whether at a party, in a café, or during a video call. It works both in casual chats with friends and in slightly more formal settings like a language‑exchange meetup.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quémúsicaestásescuchando
Qué (interrogative)
Used to ask 'what' about something unknown; always carries an accent in questions.
música (noun)
Feminine noun meaning 'music'; note the accent on the 'ú' which affects stress.
estás (verb ser/estar)
Second‑person singular present of 'estar', used for temporary states or actions in progress.
escuchando (gerund)
Gerund form of 'escuchar' (to listen); combined with 'estar' to form the present progressive.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué música estás escuchando?
What music are you listening to?
Estoy escuchando reggaetón, la canción 'Despacito' está sonando en mi teléfono.
I'm listening to reggaetón, the song 'Despacito' is playing on my phone.
✕Common Mistakes
Que música estás escuchando?
Missing the accent; 'Que' without an accent means 'that' or 'which', not the interrogative 'what'.
¿Qué música estás escucha?
Using the simple present 'escucha' changes the meaning to a habitual action, not the ongoing one.
¿Qué música está escuchando?
The verb must agree with the second‑person subject; 'está' is third‑person singular.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué canción estás escuchando?
What song are you listening to?
¿Qué tipo de música te gusta ahora?
What kind of music do you like right now?
¿Qué estás escuchando?
What are you listening to?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, music is a social glue—people often share playlists on apps like Spotify or ask for song recommendations in person. When you ask '¿Qué música estás escuchando?' be ready to talk about popular local genres such as reggaetón, cumbia, flamenco, or indie pop, and you might receive a spontaneous dance invitation!