¿Cómo está?
The Spanish phrase for "how is it?" is ¿Cómo está?
When asking about the quality or state of a specific object like food, use ¿Cómo está? followed by the object, such as ¿Cómo está la comida?
Which one should you use?
Use ¿Cómo es? to ask about the nature or characteristics of something, whereas ¿Cómo está? asks about its current state or condition.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ¿Cómo es? to ask how something feels or tastes right now, but ¿Cómo está? is the correct form for temporary states.
Did you know?
- The phrase ¿Cómo está? can be used to ask about a person's pregnancy or health recovery without mentioning the specific condition, acting as a polite euphemism.
- The word cómo is inherited from the Latin 'cōmō̆', which was a non-literary or colloquial version of the formal 'quōmodo'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, asking ¿Cómo está? when greeting someone is not a genuine inquiry about their health but a social ritual similar to 'Hello'.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a book she is reading.
- MateoVeo que lees un libro. ¿Cómo está?I see you are reading a book. How is it?
- MaríaEstá muy interesante y emocionante.It is very interesting and exciting.
- Mateo¿De qué trata la historia?What is the story about?
- MaríaEs sobre un viaje secreto.It is about a secret trip.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
