Ways to say it
| Spanish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿cómo está? | usted | ||
| ¿qué tal? | /ˈke ˈtal/ (word by word) | colloquial |
These phrases are used to greet someone and inquire about their well-being. While ¿cómo está? specifically asks how someone is, the colloquial ¿qué tal? is a versatile expression that can function as a standalone greeting similar to 'How's it going?' without necessarily requiring a detailed report on a person's state.
Which one should you use?
¿cómo está? is a formal way to ask 'how are you', whereas ¿qué tal? is a more casual and versatile way to say 'how are you' or 'how's it going'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¿cómo está? is a common formal expression used to show respect or distance. In contrast, ¿qué tal? is colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the informal version of the phrase, the grammar changes to use the 'tú' form, resulting in ¿cómo estás?
How do you pronounce it?
usted
When do people say it?
When someone asks how you are, a standard and polite way to respond is Bien, gracias, which means 'Fine, thanks.'
Did you know?
- In Mexico, you might hear ¿qué onda?, which literally means 'what wave', used as a very informal version of ¿qué tal?
- While ¿cómo estás? is the standard for 'how are you', in some regions people use ¿cómo andas?, which literally translates to 'how are you walking'.
- In highly formal Spanish settings, the phrase ¿cómo está? may be accompanied by a handshake, but in casual settings, ¿qué tal? is often paired with a single cheek kiss in Spain.
Examples in context
- Hola, Susan. ¿Qué tal?Hi, Susan. How are you?This sentence shows how to use ¿qué tal? in a greeting with a name.Tatoeba #10151681 by saverius, translation #54605 by CN
- «¿Qué tal?» «No me puedo quejar.»"How are you?" "I can't complain."This example demonstrates a common exchange using ¿qué tal? and a typical response.Tatoeba #2384863 by Shishir, translation #884471 by CK
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?Hi! How are you?This shows a simple, enthusiastic use of ¿qué tal?Tatoeba #535236 by Shishir, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Buenos días señor, ¿cómo está usted hoy?Good morning sir, how are you today?
- Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?I'm good, thank you. And you?
- Disculpe, ¿cómo se encuentra doña María?Excuse me, how are you doing, Mrs. María?
- Muy amable, estoy bien. ¿Y usted?Very kind of you, I'm well. And you?
- Hola abuelito, ¿cómo estás?Hello grandpa, how are you?
- Pues aquí sigo, muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?Well, still going strong, thank you. And you?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía meets her elderly neighbor, Javier, in the hallway.
- SofíaHola, señor Javier, ¿cómo está?Hello, Mr. Javier, how are you?
- JavierMuy bien, Sofía, gracias por preguntar.Very well, Sofía, thanks for asking.
- SofíaMe alegra mucho saberlo.I am very glad to hear that.
- JavierQue tenga un buen día.Have a good day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how are you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (qué, tal) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
