The “Do you speak English or Spanish?” meme has become increasingly popular on TikTok, dominating the app’s recommendations page — but it’s leaving many users confused.
The question “English or Spanish?” has taken on a different meaning thanks to a TikTok trend that exploded in 2024, in which people ask the on-camera person in their videos, “Do you speak English or Spanish?” before freezing them.
Many of these videos have garnered millions of likes and views on the app, stoking curiosity about the origins and meaning of the now-popular phrase.
“English or Spanish?” TikTok trend explained
The “English or Spanish” trend was started by TikTok user Alfonso Pingpong, who has amassed over a million followers with his prank videos, which basically involve him approaching men at the mall and asking, “Do you speak English or Spanish?”, and as soon as they respond, he continues, “Whoever moves first is gay.”
This unexpected turn of events leaves the men completely frozen for a long time, and they end up confronting the content creator behind the camera to prove that they are not gay.
The trend has evolved beyond Alfonso’s original video, with many TikTok users now pre-frozen when someone asks, “English? Spanish?”, assuming it might be a prank gimmick.
While many find the trend amusing as it shows the lengths straight people will go to to prove their sexuality, others have raised concerns about the potential homophobic implications, suggesting the trend is based on men’s fear of being seen as gay.
Despite these concerns, the phrase “English or Spanish” has been widely memed, and is often exaggerated to ridiculous levels to highlight the absurdity of the challenge itself.
Other users have taken a completely different approach by refusing to freeze up, some of them answering the infamous question with some crazy dance moves, showing that they’re not afraid to embrace their gay identity and proudly proving that they’re not straight.
This is the latest trend to take off on TikTok after the “show off your room like a cool girl” craze swept the app.
