What does it mean word for word?
cómo means "how" and están is the third-person plural conjugation of the verb estar (to be), which is used here to indicate a temporary state such as well-being.
Which one should you use?
In Latin American Spanish, ¿cómo están? is the standard way to address a group of people regardless of formality. However, in Spain, the informal way to say "how are y'all" is ¿cómo estáis?, which uses the vosotros form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Central America, it is common to address a group with respect and inclusiveness by saying ¿Cómo están todos ustedes? or using the informal phrase ¿Cómo les va, compas? In South America, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay, it is common to address a group of friends using ¿Cómo les va, chicos?
How does it change in a sentence?
In many cases, the pronoun ustedes is often omitted in casual speech, but adding it to ¿cómo están? makes the subject more explicit.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, it is common to follow ¿cómo están? with a physical gesture like a hug or a kiss on the cheek for every person in the group, regardless of the phrase's brevity.
- The word cómo is derived from the Latin cōmō̆, which was a non-literary or colloquial version of the formal word quōmodo.
- In parts of the Caribbean and Latin America, you might hear '¿cómo están?' used almost like a rhythmic greeting where the actual answer is secondary to the social ritual of acknowledging the group.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo están todos?How is everyone?
- Hola amigos, ¿cómo están?Hello friends, how are y'all?
Example conversation
Lucía arrives at a cafe where Alejandro and his friends are sitting.
- LucíaHola, ¿cómo están?Hi, how are y'all?
- AlejandroMuy bien, gracias Lucía.Very well, thank you Lucía.
- Lucía¿Quieren pedir algo de comer?Do you all want to order something to eat?
- AlejandroSí, tenemos mucha hambre.Yes, we are very hungry.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
