¿Cómo te va?
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico "how are you doing?" is ¿Cómo te va?, literally "how is it going for you?" Friends say ¿Cómo andas?, and with someone you address as usted it becomes ¿Cómo le va? It is also called ¿Qué tal todo?
Meaning: friendly question about how someone is getting on (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo te va? | everyday, Mexico |
| ¿Cómo andas? | casual |
| ¿Qué tal todo? | casual |
| ¿Cómo le va? | formal |
¿Cómo te va? fits when you know the person and want to hear how life or work is going. A common reply is Bien, ¿y a ti? or Ahí vamos.
Which one should you use?
Ahí vamos, literally "we are getting along", is a typical Mexican answer that means things are okay without being great.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Switch te to le for polite speech with elders, clients or strangers.
Did you know?
- Ahí vamos is one of the most common replies to a greeting in Mexico and works when you do not want to say more.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo?How are you doing at work?
- ¿Cómo andas, Pedro?How are you doing, Pedro?
- Buenas tardes, ¿cómo le va?Good afternoon, how are you doing?
Example conversation
Iván meets his former boss Mario at a café in Puebla.
- IvánMario, ¿cómo te va?Mario, how are you doing?
- MarioAhí vamos, mucho trabajo. ¿Y tú?Getting by, lots of work. And you?
- IvánBien, gracias a Dios.Fine, thank God.
