quomodo te hodie habes?
The English phrase "how are you today?" is translated into Latin as quomodo te hodie habes?
quomodo te hodie habes? is a greeting used to ask someone about their current health or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "how do you hold yourself today?" In this context, habes is a form of habere, which means "to have" or "to hold". The word hodie means "today".
Which one should you use?
While quomodo te hodie habes? asks about a person's general state, the alternative phrase quomodo vales? is used specifically to ask about one's health or strength.
Did you know?
- Ancient graffiti found in Pompeii shows that people sometimes used a version of quomodo starting with a 'k' sound instead of a 'qu' sound.
Examples in context
- Salve, quid agis hodie, magister?Hello, how are you today, professor?
Example conversation
Two friends meet on a street in Rome.
- AureliaAve, Quinte! Quomodo te hodie habes?Greetings, Quintus! How are you today?
- QuintusBene me habeo, Aurelia. Et tu?I am doing well, Aurelia. And you?
- AureliaEgo quoque bene sum.I am also doing well.
- QuintusLaetus sum audire.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hodie, quomodo, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
