What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Como vai? literally translates to "How goes [it]?"
Which one should you use?
While Como vai? is a polite way to ask "How are you doing?", the phrase Tudo bem? is more common in daily conversation and translates to "Everything okay?" or "Is everything well?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Como vai? is a formal or polite way to greet someone. In contrast, Tudo bem? is an informal way to ask how someone is doing and Como é que tá? is an informal way to say "How are you?" In Portugal, Como está? is used as a formal way to ask how someone is doing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the informal phrase Como é que tá? is used to say "How are you?"
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the pronoun você (you) after Como vai? to say Como vai você? for clarity or emphasis, although it is often omitted.
When do people say it?
In Portuguese culture, it is common to reply to a greeting by answering the question and then asking it back. A standard response to Como vai? is Vou bem, obrigado if you are male or Vou bem, obrigada if you are female. A very common and natural response to both Como vai? and Tudo bem? is simply Tudo bem.
Did you know?
- The word como descends from the Latin quōmodo, which is a combination of quō meaning 'in what' and modus meaning 'way' or 'measure'.
- When responding to Como vai?, a speaker must change the ending of 'thank you' from obrigado to obrigada based on their own gender, regardless of who they are speaking to.
- In Brazil, the informal greeting Como é que tá? is a highly contracted version of Como é que está?, where the final vowel is dropped in speech.
Examples in context
- Como vai?How are you doing?
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz meet at a coffee shop.
- LucasOi, Beatriz! Como vai?Hi, Beatriz! How are you doing?
- BeatrizOi, Lucas. Estou muito bem, e você?Hi, Lucas. I am very well, and you?
- LucasEu também vou bem, obrigado.I am also doing well, thanks.
- BeatrizQue bom!That's good!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries como, vai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
