hola, ¿cómo estás?
The English phrase "hello, how are you?" is translated into Spanish as hola, ¿cómo estás?
This phrase is a common greeting used to start a conversation and ask about someone's well-being.
Which one should you use?
The choice between ¿cómo estás? and ¿cómo está? depends on the level of formality. ¿cómo estás? is the informal version, while ¿cómo está? is the formal version.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the informal expressions ¿qué tal? and ¿qué onda? can both mean "what's up?" or "how's it going?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿cómo estás? uses the informal second-person singular verb form, making it appropriate for friends, family or people your own age. To inquire specifically about someone's health, you can use the phrase ¿cómo estás de salud?
When do people say it?
A common response to hola, ¿cómo estás? is Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? which means "Fine, thanks. And you?"
Did you know?
- The greeting hola might not be purely Spanish in origin, as it likely derives from the French command holà, which was used to tell someone to 'stop' or 'hey!'
- 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 some regions, it is common to respond to ¿cómo estás? with ahí vamos, which literally means 'there we go' but implies 'I am getting by'.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo está?Hello, how are you?
- ¡Hola! Estoy bien, graciasHi! I'm fine, thank you
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
