We’ll See What Happens in Spanish | Say It Like A Local

Most common: “Ya veremos qué pasa”; also “Veremos” or “A ver qué pasa,” depending on tone.

You’ve got a line in English that does a lot of work. “We’ll see what happens” can calm someone down, buy time, dodge a decision, or stay politely noncommittal. Spanish has that same range, but the wording shifts with mood and moment.

This page gives you the phrases native speakers reach for, when to pick each one, and the small grammar details that make you sound natural in a text, on a call, or in person.

What Spanish Speakers Say For “We’ll See What Happens”

If you want one safe default that fits most situations, go with Ya veremos qué pasa. It lands as “We’ll see what happens,” with a calm, slightly resigned tone. It can also feel reassuring if you say it with a warm voice.

Spanish gives you shorter and sharper options too. Veremos is the quick “We’ll see.” A ver qué pasa leans closer to “Let’s see what happens,” often used when you’re about to try something and you’re not sure how it’ll turn out.

Three ready-to-use translations

• Ya veremos qué pasa. Neutral, everyday default.
• Veremos. Brief, sometimes a little clipped.
• A ver qué pasa. “Let’s see what happens,” often said right before you act.

How tone changes the message

English can hide tone behind the same words. Spanish tends to show it in the phrase choice and in tiny add-ons. Ya veremos can feel patient. VeremosA ver can feel curious, like you’re about to test something.

To soften the line, add a reason or a small reassurance after it: “Ya veremos qué pasa, no pasa nada.” To make it firm, keep it short: “Veremos.”

We’ll See What Happens in Spanish With Common Contexts

Same meaning, different setting. Here are the contexts that trip people up, plus the Spanish that fits without sounding stiff.

When you’re waiting on info

If the next step depends on someone else, Ya veremos qué pasa works well. It signals patience and a willingness to wait for the missing piece.

If you’re responding in a chat and you want it short, Veremos or Ya veremos reads naturally.

When you’re about to try something risky

Right before you push the button, taste the new dish, or walk into the meeting, A ver qué pasa is the classic pick. It matches that “Okay… let’s see” vibe.

In writing, be careful not to confuse a ver with haber. The Royal Spanish Academy notes a quick check: if you can swap it with veamos, it’s a ver. See the Academy’s note on “A ver” / “haber”.

When you’re politely dodging a commitment

If you’re not ready to say yes, Spanish has softer ways to stall. Ya veremos works, and Ya veremos qué pasa adds a touch of “depends.”

If you need it gentler, you can tack on a time marker: “Ya veremos mañana” or “Ya veremos luego.” If you need it firmer, keep it short and stop there.

When you’re calming someone down

In a tense moment, Ya veremos qué pasa can sound like “We’ll handle it when it comes.” Pair it with a steady voice, then move to a practical next step: “Ya veremos qué pasa. Por ahora, hagamos esto.”

Small Details That Make You Sound Natural

These phrases are simple, but Spanish spelling carries meaning. Getting two details right makes your writing look native: the accent on qué, and the structure of a ver.

Why “qué” needs the accent

In questions, Spanish marks qué with an accent. In “Ya veremos qué pasa,” the “what” is interrogative, so you write qué with the tilde. Without it, the line looks off to many readers.

“A ver” vs “haber” in real life

In fast texting, people mix them up. If you want the clean version, stick to a ver for “let’s see,” and haber for the verb that forms perfect tenses (“he comido”). Fundéu explains this common mix-up in “«a ver» no es lo mismo que «haber»”.

What “ya” is doing in the phrase

Ya often signals “from this point” or “at last,” and it can add a sense of acceptance or patience. In “Ya veremos,” it’s like saying “We’ll see, once we get there.” If you’re curious about the range of meanings, the Academy’s dictionary entry for “ya” shows how flexible the word is.

Why “pasa” works better than “ocurre” most of the time

Pasar is the everyday verb for “to happen” in lots of casual speech. Ocurrir can sound more formal. That’s why “qué pasa” often feels more natural than “qué ocurre” in the same line. The Academy’s entry for “pasar” covers the basic sense behind this use.

Phrase Options And When To Pick Them

Use this as a quick selector. Pick the phrase, then adjust the tone with your delivery and what you say right after it.

Spanish phrase	Best fit	Tone note
Ya veremos qué pasa	Default for most situations	Calm, patient, slightly noncommittal
Ya veremos	Short reply in chat	Neutral, can soften with extra words
Veremos	Very brief answer	Can feel firm or distant
A ver qué pasa	Right before you try something	Curious, experimental
A ver	“Let’s see” as a standalone	Often followed by a plan or a look
Ya se verá	When you want it impersonal	More detached, like “time will tell”
Veremos qué pasa	Neutral, a bit more direct	Less resigned than “Ya veremos”
Vamos a ver qué pasa	Group moment before action	Friendly, includes the listener

Quick swaps that change the feel

• Add “pues”: “Pues ya veremos qué pasa” feels more conversational.
• Add a time cue: “Ya veremos mañana” pushes the decision out politely.
• Add a next step: “Ya veremos qué pasa, y luego decidimos” sounds steady and practical.

Regional Feel Without Getting Lost In It

These core phrases work across Spanish-speaking places. You’ll hear local favorites too, but you don’t need them to sound natural. Stick with Ya veremos qué pasa, Veremos, and A ver qué pasa and you’ll fit into most conversations.

One small tweak you may notice: some speakers drop ya and just say Veremos qué pasa. Others add pues more often. None of that changes the core meaning, it just changes the rhythm.

Texting And Real Conversation Examples

Seeing the phrase inside a full exchange helps you feel the tone. Use these as patterns, then swap the topic words.

When plans are uncertain

A: “¿Entonces vas a poder venir?”
B: “No sé todavía. Ya veremos qué pasa con el trabajo.”

When you’re about to try something

A: “¿Seguro que funciona?”
B: “Ni idea… A ver qué pasa.”

When someone is spiraling

A: “Todo va a salir mal.”
B: “Tranquilo. Ya veremos qué pasa. Hoy solo hagamos lo que toca.”

When you want to keep it short

A: “¿Te dan el ascenso?”
B: “Veremos.”

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

Most errors come from translating word-by-word. Fixing them is easy once you see what sounds off.

Mixing up “a ver” and “haber”

If you mean “let’s see,” write a ver. If you mean the verb “to have” in perfect tenses, write haber. In chats, you’ll see the mix-up often, but clean spelling makes you look careful.

Dropping the accent on “qué”

In “qué pasa,” the accent is the difference between a question-word and a connector. In casual texts, some people drop accents, but keeping qué reads polished.

Using “ocurrir” when you want everyday speech

Ocurrir is correct. It can also sound like a news report in a casual chat. If you want everyday tone, pasar is the safer pick.

Overloading the line with extra words

English speakers often add “we’ll see what happens” plus a second sentence that says the same thing. In Spanish, the phrase already carries the pause. Say it once, then move to the next step or stop.

Pronunciation And Punctuation Tips

If you’re saying the line out loud, stress is simple: ya ve-RE-mos qué PA-sa. Keep it smooth, not sing-song. In a ver, the v often sounds close to a soft “b,” so it comes out like “a ber.” That’s normal.

In texts, a little punctuation can change the mood. A period feels firm: “Veremos.” An ellipsis feels hesitant: “Ya veremos…” A smiley can soften it, but only if that’s your usual style.

For a polite message at work, you can keep the same idea with a cleaner finish: “Ya veremos qué pasa y te confirmo en cuanto tenga respuesta.” It stays neutral while showing you’ll follow up.

Quick Decision Table For Real Situations

Use this table as a fast “choose your phrase” map. It’s built around what the listener is likely to hear between the lines.

Situation	Best phrase	What it implies
You’re waiting for a reply	Ya veremos qué pasa	You’re open, you’re not rushing
You’re about to try it	A ver qué pasa	You’ll test it and watch
You want to be brief	Veremos	You’re holding back judgment
You want it less personal	Ya se verá	Time will decide, not you
You want to include the other person	Vamos a ver qué pasa	You’re in it together
You want to soften a “no”	Ya veremos	You’re postponing the answer

Copy Lines You Can Paste

If you want ready-made lines for texts, copy one and swap the last detail. Keep punctuation simple and let the phrase do the work.

• “Ya veremos qué pasa con ___.”
• “A ver qué pasa cuando ___.”
• “Veremos. Te digo algo luego.”
• “Ya se verá. Hoy no puedo decidir.”
• “Vamos a ver qué pasa y luego lo hablamos.”

If you’re still unsure, stick to Ya veremos qué pasa. It’s natural, it’s flexible, and it rarely sounds out of place.