Hola, ¿cómo estás hoy?
The English phrase "hello, how are you today?" can be translated into Spanish as Hola, ¿cómo estás hoy?
Other ways to greet people include the informal ¿Qué tal? (What's up?), ¿Cómo va? (How's it going?) and ¿Cómo te ha ido? (How have you been?).
What does it mean word for word?
The word hoy literally means "today" and is placed at the end of the sentence to specify the timeframe.
Which one should you use?
If you want to be more formal or show respect to an elder or a stranger, you should replace ¿cómo estás hoy? with ¿cómo está usted hoy?
When do people say it?
A common and natural way to respond to this greeting is Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Fine, thanks. And you?).
Did you know?
- The greeting hola may have roots in the French expression holà, which was used as a command to mean 'hey, stop!'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting like Hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or two, depending on the country.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿cómo estás? is often a social ritual rather than a literal inquiry into your health. People may respond with a standard 'bien' even if they are having a difficult day.
Examples in context
- Hola, señora García, ¿cómo está usted hoy?Hello, Mrs. García, how are you today?
- Buenos días, señor Martínez, ¿cómo se encuentra hoy?Good morning, Mr. Martínez, how are you feeling today?
- Hola, Pedro, ¿cómo estás hoy?Hello, Pedro, how are you today?
- ¿Cómo va, Pablo?How's it going, Pablo?
Example conversation
María and Daniel meet at a cafe.
- MaríaHola, ¿cómo estás hoy?Hello, how are you today?
- DanielEstoy muy bien, gracias.I am very well, thank you.
- María¿Quieres un café, Daniel?Do you want a coffee, Daniel?
- DanielSí, me gustaría uno.Yes, I would like one.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, hola, hoy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
