15 Ways to Say “What Are You Doing?” (Formal and Informal)

Other Ways to Say “What Are You Doing?” in English (Formal and Informal)

“What are you doing?” is one of the most common questions in everyday English, but it is not always the best choice. Depending on who you are speaking to, you can ask the same thing in many different ways, from a relaxed “What’s up?” to a polished “What are you currently working on?”

In this guide, you will learn 15 other ways to say “What are you doing?” in English, grouped into informal, neutral and formal options. Each one comes with a meaning, an example and advice on when to use it, followed by sample replies, short conversations and a quick practice quiz.

Why Register Matters in Spoken English

Register means the level of formality you use in a particular situation. The same question can sound friendly, neutral or stiff depending on the words you choose. You would probably say “What are you up to?” to a friend, but “What are you currently working on?” to a client or a senior colleague.

A simple rule of thumb:

• Informal: friends, family, classmates and people you know well
• Neutral: colleagues, acquaintances and most everyday situations
• Formal: managers, clients, interviews and professional emails

Informal and Casual Ways to Say “What Are You Doing?”

Use these with friends, family and people you feel comfortable with.

1. What Are You Up To?

This is the most popular casual alternative. Here, up to simply means “doing”, and the question can refer to right now or to future plans. The Cambridge Dictionary defines be up to something as “to be doing something”.

Example: “Hi Sam, what are you up to this weekend?”

When a friend asks “What are you up to tonight?”, an invitation often follows. If you cannot go, read our guide on how to politely reject an invitation in English.

2. What’s Up?

This is often a greeting rather than a real question, so the usual answer is short, such as “Not much. You?” It is very common in speech and text messages, but it does not ask for a detailed account of your activities.

Example: “Hey, what’s up?” – “Not much, just relaxing at home.”

3. What’s Going On?

This asks what is happening in someone’s life or in the situation around you. Said warmly, it is friendly. Said with a worried look, it means “What is happening here?”

Example: “You look excited. What’s going on?”

4. Whatcha Doin’?

This is a very casual, spoken contraction of “What are you doing?” (“whatcha” = “what are you”). It is fine with close friends in conversation or texts, but avoid it in writing, at work or in exams.

Example: “Whatcha doin’? Fancy a coffee?”

5. What Are You Getting Up To?

This is a friendly, slightly playful question that is especially common in British English. It is often used to ask about weekend, holiday or evening plans.

Example: “What are you getting up to this bank holiday?”

Neutral and Polite Ways to Ask “What Are You Doing?”

These options are safe in most situations, whether you are talking to a colleague, a classmate, a neighbour or someone you have just met.

6. What Are You Doing at the Moment?

This is the clear, complete version of the original question. Adding “at the moment” and a friendly tone stops it sounding like criticism.

Example: “What are you doing at the moment? Do you have a minute to chat?”

7. What Are You Working On?

This is very natural for jobs, studies, hobbies and projects. It shows genuine interest in what the person is creating or achieving.

Example: “What are you working on these days?”

8. What Have You Been Up To Lately?

This uses the present perfect continuous, so it asks about a recent period (days, weeks or months) rather than this exact moment. It is perfect for catching up with someone.

Example: “We haven’t spoken for ages. What have you been up to lately?”

9. What Are You Busy With at the Moment?

This is polite and considerate. It often checks whether the other person has time to talk or help.

Example: “What are you busy with at the moment? I don’t want to interrupt.”

10. What Are Your Plans for Today?

This asks about intended activities rather than what is happening right now. It works well when you are planning something together or hosting a guest.

Example: “What are your plans for today? Shall we meet for lunch?”

Professional and Formal Ways to Ask “What Are You Doing?”

Choose these with managers, clients, interviewers and senior colleagues, and in emails. Being courteous means choosing wording that shows respect, and these phrases do exactly that.

11. What Are You Currently Working On?

This is the standard professional version. The word “currently” adds a formal, businesslike tone.

Example: “Good morning, Priya. What are you currently working on?”

12. What Are You Focusing On at the Moment?

This is useful in meetings and performance reviews, when you want to know someone’s priorities. It sounds more natural than the stiffer “What task are you focused on at the moment?”

Example: “What are you focusing on at the moment, and how can the team support you?”

13. What’s on Your Plate Today?

The idiom on your plate refers to the tasks and responsibilities you have to deal with. It is semi-formal and very common in workplaces, especially when a manager asks about workload. If someone says “I have a lot on my plate”, they are very busy.

Example: Manager: “What’s on your plate today?” Employee: “Mainly the client proposal, then a team meeting at three.”

If your honest answer is “too much”, see our post on 10 polite ways to say “no” to your boss.

14. How Are You Spending Your Time at the Moment?

This is a polite, slightly reflective question, useful in interviews or when someone has recently changed jobs, projects or routines.

Example: “I’d be interested to hear how you are spending your time at the moment.”

15. Could You Tell Me What You Are Working On at the Moment?

This is the most formal option. It is an indirect question, so the word order changes: “what you are working on”, not “what are you working on”. It suits emails and conversations with senior people.

Example: “Could you tell me what you are working on at the moment? I would like to update the project timeline.”

Quick Comparison Table

Phrase	Register	Best Used With
What are you up to?	Informal	Friends, family, classmates
What’s up?	Informal	Greetings and quick texts
What’s going on?	Informal	Friends, or when something seems to be happening
Whatcha doin’?	Very informal (spoken)	Close friends, texts
What are you getting up to?	Informal (British)	Friends, asking about plans
What are you doing at the moment?	Neutral	Most everyday situations
What are you working on?	Neutral	Colleagues, classmates
What have you been up to lately?	Neutral	Catching up with someone
What are you busy with at the moment?	Neutral to polite	Checking whether someone is free
What are your plans for today?	Neutral	Planning, hosting, travelling
What are you currently working on?	Formal	Clients, managers, interviews
What are you focusing on at the moment?	Formal	Meetings, reviews
What’s on your plate today?	Semi-formal	Workplace, manager to team
How are you spending your time at the moment?	Formal	Interviews, polite conversation
Could you tell me what you are working on at the moment?	Very formal	Senior colleagues, emails

How to Reply When Someone Asks What You Are Doing

• Casual replies: “Not much, just chilling.” / “Nothing special, just watching a series.” / “Just out with friends. You?”
• Neutral replies: “I’m working on a presentation for tomorrow.” / “I’ve been revising for my exams.”
• Formal replies: “I’m currently preparing the quarterly report.” / “At the moment, I’m focusing on the client proposal.”

Example Conversations

Between Friends

A: Hey, what are you up to tonight?
B: Not much, just watching a film. Why?
A: A few of us are going for pizza. Fancy joining us?
B: Sounds great!

Between Colleagues

A: What are you working on at the moment?
B: I’m finishing the sales report. What about you?
A: I’m preparing slides for Friday’s meeting.

Manager and Employee

Manager: What’s on your plate today?
Employee: I’m finishing the client proposal first, and then I have a team meeting at three.
Manager: Great. Let me know if you need any support.

Once the question has been answered, keep the chat flowing with these easy English conversation topics, grouped by situation with ready-to-use questions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using “Whatcha doin’?” in writing or at work. It is spoken, very informal English.
• Being too formal. “What is occupying your time right now?” is grammatically correct, but native speakers rarely say it. “What are you working on?” sounds far more natural.
• Using the wrong word order in indirect questions. Say “Could you tell me what you are working on?”, not “what are you working on”.
• Treating “What’s up?” as a request for a long answer. A short reply such as “Not much, you?” is usually enough.
• Confusing “up to” meanings. “What are you up to?” asks about activity, whereas “It’s up to you” means “It’s your decision”.
• Using a sharp tone. With strong stress on “doing”, “What are you doing?” can sound critical. Soften it with a smile or an option such as “What are you up to?”

Quick Practice Quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation.

1. You meet a close friend at a café. Which is most natural?
   (a) What task are you focused on at the moment? (b) What’s up? (c) Could you tell me what you are working on?
2. You are writing to a senior client. Which fits best?
   (a) Whatcha doin’? (b) What’s going on? (c) Could you tell me what you are currently working on?
3. Which question asks about the last few weeks rather than right now?
   (a) What are you up to? (b) What have you been up to lately? (c) What are you doing at the moment?
4. Which question would a manager use to ask about your workload?
   (a) What’s on your plate today? (b) What’s up? (c) Whatcha doin’?
5. True or false: “What’s up?” always needs a detailed answer.

Answers: 1 – (b); 2 – (c); 3 – (b); 4 – (a); 5 – False.

Final Thoughts

Knowing different ways to say “What are you doing?” helps you sound natural and confident in any situation. Use casual phrases such as “What are you up to?” with friends, neutral ones such as “What are you working on?” with colleagues, and formal ones such as “What are you currently working on?” with managers and clients. Pay attention to tone, and you will always choose the right words for the right person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a polite way to ask “What are you doing?” in English?

A polite and natural option is “What are you working on?” In more formal situations, say “What are you currently working on?” or “Could you tell me what you are working on at the moment?”

Is “What are you up to?” formal or informal?

It is informal. It is perfect for friends, family and friendly colleagues, but in formal emails or meetings choose “What are you currently working on?” instead.

What does “What’s on your plate?” mean?

It asks about the tasks and responsibilities someone has to deal with. At work, a manager might ask “What’s on your plate today?” to understand your workload. If you have “a lot on your plate”, you are very busy.

What is the difference between “What are you up to?” and “What have you been up to?”

“What are you up to?” asks about what someone is doing now or planning to do soon. “What have you been up to?” asks about their recent activities over the past days, weeks or months, so it is ideal for catching up.

Is “Whatcha doin’?” correct English?

It is a very informal, spoken contraction of “What are you doing?” You can use it with close friends in speech or texts, but avoid it in writing, at work or in exams.