What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cómo (how), están (are [you all]) and todos (everyone/all).
Which one should you use?
While ¿cómo están todos? specifically includes the word for "everyone", the shorter version ¿cómo están? is often used to address a group and implies the same sentiment. For a more casual, colloquial way to ask the same question, you can use ¿qué tal todos?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard ¿cómo están todos? can be used in various settings, but there are specific versions for different levels of politeness. Use ¿Cómo se encuentran todos? for formal situations and ¿Qué tal andan todos? for informal situations. The phrase ¿Cómo les va a todos? is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal situations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might say ¿Cómo están todos ustedes? or ¿Cómo les va a todos ustedes? instead of the standard forms. In Argentina, people might informally use the phrase ¿Cómo andan todos?
How does it change in a sentence?
If the group being addressed consists entirely of women, you must change the masculine todos to the feminine todas to say ¿cómo están todas? You can also replace todos with the singular phrase todo el mundo to mean "everyone", but you must change the verb están to the singular está to form ¿cómo está todo el mundo?
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to this greeting is Bien, gracias (Fine, thanks).
Did you know?
- Using the verb andar in ¿cómo andan todos? literally translates to 'how are everyone walking?'
- The word cómo evolved from the Latin cōmō̆, which was a non-literary version of the more formal quōmodo.
- If you are greeting a group of friends in Spain, you might hear ¿cómo estáis todos? This uses the 'vosotros' form, which is almost never used in Latin America but is standard in Peninsula Spanish.
Examples in context
- María, la jefa de departamento, entra en la sala de reuniones y pregunta: "¿Cómo está todo el mundo?"María, the department head, enters the meeting room and asks, "How is everyone doing?"
- Roberto llega a una reunión con sus amigos y dice: "¿Qué tal andan todos?"Roberto arrives at a gathering with friends and says, "How are you all doing?"
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo están todos hoy?Hello! How is everyone doing today?
- Llegué tarde, ¿cómo están todos?I arrived late, how is everyone doing?
Example conversation
Elena enters the office where Alejandro and the team are working.
- ElenaHola, ¿cómo están todos?Hello, how is everyone doing?
- AlejandroMuy bien, Elena, gracias por preguntar.Very well, Elena, thanks for asking.
- ElenaMe alegra mucho escucharlo.I am very happy to hear that.
- Alejandro¿Y tú cómo has estado?And how have you been?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
