Which one should you use?
While ¿cómo están chicos? is a common informal way to address a group, you can use ¿Cómo están ustedes? to be more formal. In some parts of Latin America, you may also hear ¿Cómo están todos? or ¿Cómo están ustedes, muchachos? to express the same idea.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¿Cómo están chicos? is informal. To make the greeting more neutral and suitable for formal settings where you are addressing a group, you can remove chicos and simply say ¿cómo están? Additionally, ¿Cómo están ustedes? is the formal way to ask "How are you guys?" in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Latin America, muchachos is a very common alternative to chicos when addressing a group of peers or younger people, such as in the phrase ¿cómo están, muchachos?
How does it change in a sentence?
If the context of the group is already clear, the word chicos can be omitted, leaving just ¿cómo están?
What mistakes should you avoid?
When addressing a group, do not use the singular ¿cómo está chicos? Because you are talking to multiple people, you must use the plural form están.
Did you know?
- In very informal settings in Mexico, ¿cómo andan? is often used instead of ¿cómo están? This literally asks 'how are you walking', but it means 'how are you doing' or 'how is it going'.
- In some Caribbean countries, you might hear ¿qué pasó? used as a way to say 'how are you guys'. Although it literally asks 'what happened', it functions as a casual greeting among peers.
- If you are in Spain, you would likely swap están for estáis to say ¿cómo estáis, chicos?, as they use the informal plural 'vosotros'.
Examples in context
- Hola a todos, ¿cómo están ustedes hoy?Hello everyone, how are you guys today?
- ¡Hola chicos! ¿Cómo están hoy?Hi guys! How are you today?
Example conversation
Maria arrives at a cafe to meet Daniel and his friends.
- María¡Hola! ¿Cómo están chicos?Hi! How are you guys?
- DanielTodo bien, María. ¿Y tú?All good, Maria. And you?
- MaríaMuy bien, gracias por preguntar.Very well, thanks for asking.
- DanielQué bueno. Siéntate con nosotros.That's great. Sit with us.
