How do you use "Do what now?" in a sentence?

You're moving to Alaska? Do what now? Do what now? I didn't catch that. She said she's quitting her job to raise alpacas. Do what now?

Do what now?

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate informal

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Meaning: A Southern way of saying 'what did you say?' or expressing confusion about what was just said.

南方人说'你刚才说啥？'的方式，或对刚才听到的话表示困惑。

Una forma sureña de decir '¿qué has dicho?' o de expresar confusión ante lo que se acaba de escuchar.

「今なんて言った？」の南部式の言い方、または相手の発言に対する困惑を表す表現。

'뭐라고 했어?'의 남부식 표현, 또는 상대방이 한 말에 대한 어리둥절함을 나타내는 표현.

Instead of 'excuse me?' or 'what?', Southerners often say 'do what now?' It's a casual, folksy way of asking for clarification or expressing mild disbelief. It's softer than 'huh?' and more colorful than 'pardon?'

南方人不说'excuse me?'或'what?'，而是常说'do what now?'。这是一种随意、朴实的方式来请求对方再说一遍或表达轻微的难以置信。它比'huh?'更柔和，比'pardon?'更有特色。

En lugar de 'excuse me?' o 'what?', los sureños suelen decir 'do what now?' Es una forma casual y castiza de pedir una aclaración o expresar una ligera incredulidad. Es más suave que un '¿eh?' y más pintoresco que un '¿perdona?'.

「Excuse me?」や「What?」の代わりに、南部の人はよく「Do what now?」と言う。確認を求めたり軽い驚きを表したりする、くだけた味わいのある言い方。「Huh?」よりも柔らかく、「Pardon?」よりも個性的。

'Excuse me?'나 'what?' 대신 남부 사람들은 'do what now?'라고 자주 말한다. 이것은 확인을 요청하거나 가벼운 의아함을 표현하는 소박하고 구수한 방식이다. 'Huh?'보다 부드럽고 'pardon?'보다 생동감 있다.

Examples

You're moving to Alaska? Do what now?
你要搬去阿拉斯加？啥，你说啥？
¿Que te mudas a Alaska? ¿Cómo dices?
アラスカに引っ越すの？え、なんだって？
알래스카로 이사한다고? 뭐라고?
Do what now? I didn't catch that.
啥，你说啥？我没听清。
¿Cómo dices? No te he pillado.
え、なんて？聞こえなかった。
뭐라고? 잘 못 들었어.
She said she's quitting her job to raise alpacas. Do what now?
她说她要辞职去养羊驼。啥，你说啥？
Dice que va a dejar el trabajo para criar alpacas. ¿Cómo dices?
仕事を辞めてアルパカを飼うんだって。え、なんだって？
직장을 그만두고 알파카를 키운다고 했대. 뭐라고?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: confusion, surprise, asking for clarification

Tone: confused, casual

✓ Do Say

Do what now?
啥，你说啥？
¿Cómo dices?
え、なんだって？
뭐라고?
Do what?
你说啥？
¿Cómo?
なんて？
뭐?

✗ Don't Say

Don't use in formal or professional contexts — it's very colloquial
不要在正式或职业场合使用——这是非常口语化的表达
No lo uses en contextos formales o profesionales — es muy coloquial
フォーマルな場やビジネスの場では使わないこと——非常にくだけた口語表現
격식 있는 자리나 직장에서는 사용하지 말 것 — 매우 구어적인 표현이다

Origin & History

A Southern dialectal question form that evolved naturally from conversational patterns. The structure 'do what?' is a shortened version of 'what did you do/say?' and has been part of Southern speech for generations.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Throughout the South