bien, gracias por preguntar
/ˈbjen ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas poɾ pɾeɡunˈtaɾ/word by word
The English phrase "good, thanks for asking" is translated into Spanish as bien, gracias por preguntar.
This phrase is used as a direct response to questions like ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) or ¿Qué tal? (How's it going?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bien (well), gracias (thanks), por (for) and preguntar (to ask).
Which one should you use?
Bien, gracias is a more common, shorter way to say 'good, thanks' in casual conversation compared to the full bien, gracias por preguntar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, one can say Bien, gracias por preguntar.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the indirect object pronoun -me to the end of the infinitive preguntar makes the phrase more specific to the person being asked.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbjen ˈɡɾaθjas/ [ˈɡɾa.θjas poɾ pɾeɡunˈtaɾ]. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While perfectly correct, using the complete bien, gracias por preguntar can actually make you sound a bit like a robot in a casual conversation with native speakers.
- The verb preguntar traces back to a Latin root that implied a much more intense, thorough, and investigative way of seeking information than just asking a simple question.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, answering bien is a ritualized social performance. Even if a person is having a terrible day, they will say bien to maintain social harmony.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo va todo? Bien, gracias por preguntar.How is everything going? Good, thanks for asking.
- Bien, gracias por preguntar, ¿y tú?Good, thanks for asking, and you?
- Todo bien, gracias por preguntar.Everything is good, thanks for asking.
- Muy bien, gracias por preguntar, señora.Very good, thanks for asking, ma'am.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía meet at a cafe.
- Javier¿Cómo estás, Lucía?How are you, Lucía?
- LucíaBien, gracias por preguntar. ¿Y tú?Good, thanks for asking. And you?
- JavierMuy bien también.Very well too.
- LucíaMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
