Which one should you use?
¿Cómo estás? uses the 'tú' (informal) conjugation to ask how someone is doing. In contrast, if you are addressing one person formally, such as a boss or a stranger, you should use ¿Cómo está usted? or the phrase Hola, ¿cómo está? instead of the informal version.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, specifically among young people, the informal greeting ¿Qué onda? is commonly used to mean "What's up?" In Argentina and Uruguay, the phrase ¿Cómo andas? is a common informal way to greet friends or acquaintances to ask "How are you doing?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿Cómo estás? uses the informal second-person singular pronoun, making it appropriate for family, friends or people your age. When addressing a group of friends or peers, you can use estáis.
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to Hola, ¿cómo estás? is Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Fine, thanks. And you?).
Did you know?
- The greeting Hola may actually have its roots in an old command to 'stop!' rather than a friendly hello.
- In Mexico, you can replace your standard greeting with ¿Qué onda?, which literally translates to 'What wave?'
- If you use the formal ¿Cómo está usted? in a very casual setting, like a party with friends, you might accidentally signal that you are being cold or distant.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?Hi, how are you?
- Hola, ¿cómo estás? ¿Todo bien?Hi, how are you? Is everything good?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
