¿estás bien?
The English phrase "are you well?" is translated into Spanish as ¿estás bien?
While it can mean "are you well?", ¿estás bien? is most commonly used to ask "are you okay?" in response to a potential problem or accident.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to someone you address with the formal "usted", use ¿está bien? instead of ¿estás bien? If you are asking a group of people if they are well, use ¿están bien?
When do people say it?
A standard way to respond to the question is Sí, estoy bien.
Did you know?
- While ¿estás bien? asks if someone is okay, the phrase ¿estás bueno? is used to describe someone as physically attractive or sexually appealing.
- Depending on the region, using ¿estás bien? during a heated argument can be interpreted as condescending or sarcastic, implying the other person is acting unstable.
- The word bien shares an ancestral root with the English word 'good', stemming from the Latin 'bonus'.
Examples in context
- Te veo un poco pálida, ¿estás bien?You look a bit pale, are you well?
Example conversation
Javier arrives at the park to meet Sofía.
- JavierHola Sofía, ¿estás bien?Hello Sofía, are you well?
- SofíaSí, Javier, estoy muy bien, gracias.Yes, Javier, I am very well, thank you.
- JavierMe alegro mucho de verte.I am very glad to see you.
- SofíaYo también, ¿cómo te va a ti?Me too, how is it going with you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
