Context
Your friend tried to fix the boiler themselves and flooded the kitchen.
¿En qué estabas pensando?
'What were you thinking?' — the classic. Short, sharp, universal.
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sayingsSaying 3 of 25
what part of you could possibly have thought that was a good idea
Exasperated disbelief — usually affectionate, said when someone has done something spectacularly ill-conceived.
Literal translation trap
A direct translation exists but at 20 words it's too long to feel natural. Spanish condenses disbelief.
Say it like this
Context
Someone booked a non-refundable flight before checking if they had work.
¿Cómo se te ocurrió eso?
'How did that occur to you?' — genuinely baffled, not angry. Very Spanish.
Context
A teenager dyed their hair green before a job interview.
¿Qué cabeza tienes?
'What kind of head do you have?' — questioning the very brain involved in the decision.
Context
Someone tried to carry twenty bags in one trip and dropped everything.
Pero bueno, ¿qué haces?
Soft, slightly amused exasperation. Literally 'well good, what are you doing?'
Context
A mate sent a voice note to the wrong person.
Eso no se hace, ¿eh?
'You don't do that' — the understated Spanish version of total incredulity.