---
title: "¿qué pex?"
translation: "What's up. (Casual, very CDMX youth slang.)"
type: "word"
category: "expression"
url: "https://consalsa.app/words/que-pex"
canonical: "https://consalsa.app/words/que-pex"
published: "2026-07-31"
updated: "2026-07-31"
author: "Andrey the Nomad"
site: "ConSalsa.App"
license: "https://consalsa.app/about"
---

# ¿qué pex?
URL: https://consalsa.app/words/que-pex
Translation: What's up. (Casual, very CDMX youth slang.)
Pronunciation: /ke ˈpeks/
Category: expression
Region: CDMX youth speech, spreading via social media
Register: very casual, distinctly teen and youth CDMX
Variants: que pex, q pex, qué pex
Literal meaning: Pex is a phonetic respelling of pedo — so ¿qué pex? is basically ¿qué pedo? wearing a teenage disguise.
Tone & safety: Completely safe between friends — but it sounds young, so using it with people over 30 often just earns a confused look.
Published: 2026-07-31

Quick answer:
- ¿Qué pex? means 'what's up' in Mexican Spanish — it's a casual greeting between friends, mostly used by teens and young adults in CDMX.
- It's a playful phonetic respelling of ¿qué pedo?, softening the vulgarity while keeping the same informal energy.
- Safe to use with close friends your age, but it sounds young and can confuse people over 30 or in any formal setting.

What it means:
- ¿Qué pex? is a casual greeting — the kind you throw at a friend when you walk in the door, pick up the phone, or show up to the corner where everyone's hanging out. It means 'what's up' or 'how's it going,' and most of the time that's all it is.
- Depending on tone and context it can also mean 'what's the deal here' or even 'what's your problem' — the same range ¿qué pedo? covers, just wrapped in a slightly gentler package.

Literal meaning:
- Pex is a phonetic respelling of pedo — the p and ex sound like the end of 'pedo' said quickly, with the vulgar sting taken off. It's the same creative spelling logic as güey becoming wey in texts: sound the same, look friendlier.
- This kind of respelling is common in CDMX youth slang, especially in messaging culture where the written word needs to signal tone. ¿Qué pex? reads as lighter and more playful than the original even when it means the same thing.

How Mexicans use it:
- You'll hear it most from people in their late teens and twenties — at school gates, outside oxxos, arriving at a friend's apartment. It's a quick social ping: 'I see you, what's happening.' Nobody stops to analyze it; it's just how the conversation starts.
- In WhatsApp and group chats, ¿qué pex? shows up constantly as a one-line check-in or a way to wake up a quiet thread. 'Q pex todos' or just 'pex??' with no context — that's enough. The group knows what it means.
- Outside CDMX it's less common, but Mexican social media has spread it further. You'll encounter it in comments and DMs from younger Mexican users everywhere, even in the US.

Tone and safety:
- ¿Qué pex? is not vulgar in the way ¿qué pedo? can be — most people hear it as playful rather than raw. But it is very informal and very youth-coded, which creates its own kind of misfit. Saying it to a boss, a parent's friend, or anyone outside your social circle just reads as out of place.
- If you want a safe all-ages alternative, ¿qué onda? is the classic move. It's still casual and friendly, but it doesn't carry the same 'this person grew up texting' signal.

Common mistake:
- The most common mistake is treating ¿qué pex? as interchangeable with ¿qué onda? — using it with people you just met, in professional settings, or with people who are noticeably older. The words are similar, but the social range is narrower.
- The other mistake is thinking it sounds rude because of the pedo root. It doesn't — the respelling softens the feel. The issue isn't vulgarity, it's register: it signals closeness and youth, and if neither of those applies, the greeting just feels a bit off.

Examples:
- ¿Qué pex, güey? ¿Ya comiste? — What's up, dude? Have you eaten yet?
- ¿Qué pex contigo? Llevas todo el día callado. — What's going on with you? You've been quiet all day.
- Llegó al depa sin avisar — nada más entró y dijo '¿qué pex?' — He showed up at the apartment unannounced — just walked in and said 'what's up?'
- Q pex todos, ¿van a llegar o no? — Hey everyone, are you actually coming or not?

Mini dialogue:
A: ¿Qué pex? Llevas rato sin contestar.
B: Perdón, me quedé dormido.
A: ¿Dormido? Son las cuatro de la tarde.
B: Sí güey, traigo una flojera que no puedo.
A: ¿Y la chamba de hoy?
B: Mándame en diez minutos, ya me estoy levantando.
A: Ándale, no te creas.

FAQ:
Q: What does ¿qué pex? mean?
A: ¿Qué pex? means 'what's up' or 'what's going on' in Mexican Spanish. It's a casual greeting between close friends, mostly used by teens and young adults in CDMX.

Q: Is ¿qué pex? rude?
A: Not really — it's informal and youth-coded, but not vulgar in the way ¿qué pedo? can be. The issue is register: it signals a level of closeness and youthfulness that can feel out of place with strangers or in formal settings.

Q: What's the difference between ¿qué pex? and ¿qué pedo?
A: ¿Qué pedo? is the original — blunter, more adult, and more widely recognized. ¿Qué pex? is a phonetic respelling that softens the vulgarity and reads as younger and more playful. Same meaning, different vibe.

Q: What's the difference between ¿qué pex? and ¿qué onda?
A: ¿Qué onda? is the safe, all-ages casual greeting — works with almost anyone in an informal setting. ¿Qué pex? is narrower: it's specifically a youth and close-friend expression. If in doubt, use ¿qué onda?

Q: How do you use ¿qué pex? in a text?
A: Exactly how you'd use it out loud — 'q pex' or '¿qué pex?' at the start of a message or as a one-line check-in. It's low-effort and signals casual closeness. Works well in group chats to restart a quiet thread.

Q: Who says ¿qué pex? in Mexico?
A: Mostly teens and young adults, especially in CDMX. It's a youth-register expression that's spread through social media and messaging apps. Older generations typically use ¿qué onda?, ¿qué pedo?, or ¿qué transa? instead.

Q: Is ¿qué pex? used outside Mexico City?
A: It originated in CDMX youth culture but has spread through Mexican social media and TikTok. You'll see it in DMs and comments from young Mexicans across the country and in the US, though it still reads as distinctly chilango.

Related words: que-pedo, que-onda, que-transa, guey