Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cómo | /ˈkomo/ |
| de qué manera/modo/forma |
cómo is used to ask about the manner or way in which something occurs. You can also use the phrase de qué manera/modo/forma to achieve the same meaning. In a specific conversational context, saying just ¿Cómo? is a common way to ask someone to repeat what they just said, similar to saying "Pardon?" or "What?" in English.
Which one should you use?
While cómo is the standard way to say "how", the phrase de qué manera/modo/forma provides a more formal or explicit alternative when you want to specifically inquire about the method or manner of an action.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase ¿Cómo te va?, which means "how is it going for you?", is commonly used in Latin American countries. The phrase ¿Cómo va todo?, meaning "how's everything going?", is used in Spain and some Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an interrogative to ask a question, cómo must always carry a written accent mark.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkomo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse cómo with como. The version with the accent mark cómo is the interrogative "how", whereas como without the accent means "as", "like" or "I eat".
Did you know?
- In many Spanish dialects, the phrase ¿Cómo no? is used as a strong way to say 'of course' or 'why not', rather than as a literal question about how something is not possible.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying ¿Cómo? when you didn't hear someone can be perceived as too blunt or rude, so people often use ¿Mande? or ¿Perdón? instead.
- The word cómo evolved from the Latin cōmō̆, which was a non-literary or colloquial version of the formal word quōmodo.
Examples in context
- Ya sé cómo va.I know how that goes.This sentence shows how to use cómo to describe how something progresses.Tatoeba #4554846 by swyter, translation #2375928 by CK
- ¿Cómo vas a ir?How are you going?This sentence uses cómo to ask about the method of travel.Tatoeba #6601697 by arh, translation #1417902 by tien_oroniel
- ¿Cómo va tu día?How is your day going?This sentence uses cómo to inquire about the state of someone's day.Tatoeba #12881465 by ecorralest101, translation #9131731 by megamanenm
- 2235 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about a new recipe.
- Mateo¿Cómo se hace este postre?How is this dessert made?
- LucíaPrimero, bate los huevos con azúcar.First, beat the eggs with sugar.
- Mateo¿Cómo puedo saber si está listo?How can I know if it is ready?
- LucíaCuando cambie de color, estará bien.When it changes color, it will be fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how” translations and entries cómo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, de, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
