What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of espero (I hope), que (that), todo (everything/all), esté (be/is in a state) and bien (well).
Which one should you use?
While English uses the indicative "is" in this expression, Spanish requires the subjunctive mood to convey the sense of a wish.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
espero que todo esté bien is appropriate for formal correspondence, such as emails to clients or colleagues. For a more formal way to say "I hope you are doing well," you can use Deseo que te encuentres bien. If you are in an informal setting, you can say Espero que estés bien to mean "I hope you're doing well."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Espero que estés bien. is used to say "I hope you are well." In Spain, Espero que todo te vaya bien. is used to say "I hope everything goes well for you."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the subjunctive mood (esté) because it expresses a wish or desire.
When do people say it?
The phrase Que todo te vaya bien is an informal way to express a desire for a person to have success and good fortune.
Did you know?
- In formal Spanish correspondence, the phrase Deseo que te encuentres bien uses the verb encontrarse, which literally means 'to find oneself'.
- While espero que todo esté bien is a polite greeting, the shortened version Que todo te vaya bien is often used as a way to say 'goodbye' and wish someone luck as they depart.
- The word que in this phrase actually descends from the Latin word 'quid', which means 'what'. It is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'who'.
Examples in context
- ¡Espero que todo esté bien!I hope all is well!This sentence is useful for expressing the sentiment "I hope all is well!" using espero que todo esté bien.Tatoeba #1200366 by cueyayotl, translation #1199486 by voxbubnya
- Hola Pedro, espero que todo esté bien. Quería expresarte mi apoyo en estos momentos difíciles.Hi Pedro, I hope everything is well. I wanted to express my support during these difficult times.
- Estimada Sra. García, ojalá todo esté yendo bien en su nuevo puesto de trabajo.Dear Mrs. García, I hope everything is going well in your new job.
- Hola Ana, ¡espero que todo vaya bien en tu viaje!Hi Ana, I hope everything is going well on your trip!
- Hola Carlos, solo quería escribirte para decirte que espero que estés bien. ¡Hace mucho que no nos vemos!Hi Carlos, I just wanted to reach out to say I hope you're doing well. It's been a long time since we last saw each other!
- ¡Hola Marta! Espero que todo te vaya bien en el examen de mañana. ¡Confío en tu talento!Hi Marta! I hope everything goes well for you on tomorrow's exam. I trust in your talent!
- Hola, espero que todo esté bien por allá.Hello, I hope all is well over there.
Example conversation
Alejandro is sending a polite email to María.
- AlejandroHola María, espero que todo esté bien.Hello María, I hope all is well.
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Alejandro. Todo va de maravilla.Thank you very much, Alejandro. Everything is going wonderfully.
- AlejandroMe alegro mucho de escuchar eso.I am very glad to hear that.
- MaríaIgualmente, espero que tú también estés bien.Likewise, I hope you are doing well too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, que, todo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
