by Micaela Segal de la Garza
You want to say How Are You in Spanish, right?
Well, the most important word you need to know is “¿Cómo estás? ”
But there’s a ton more! In this guide, you learn 10+ ways to say how are you in Spanish. Ready?
Keep reading!
How to Say How Are You in Spanish – 10+ Ways
Options for Formal and Informal Situations
1. ¿Cómo estás?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-stahs
- Meaning: How are you? (informal)
When asking how are you in Spanish, this is the most common way to phrase the question. “Koh-mo eh-stahs” is informal because it conjugates the verb estar to the informal you, or tú.
Example:
- Hola, cómo estás, primo?
- Hi, how are you, cousin?
2. ¿Cómo está?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-stah
- Meaning: How are you? (formal)
“Koh-mo eh-stah” is only one letter different, but there is a world of difference in the meaning.
This is a formal way to ask how are you in Spanish.
The words ask “how are you” but they show respect and formality. Use this when talking to someone above you in a hierarchy, such as to a boss, an elder, or a parent of your significant other. Some relationships will start formally, such as with school teachers, but as time goes on the other person may encourage switching to the informal conjugation.
Example:
- Hola Señora Presidenta, cómo está hoy?
- Hello Mrs. President, how are you today?
3. ¿Cómo está Usted?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-stah oo-sted
- Meaning: How are you? (formal)
Similar to addressing the listener as Sir or Ma’am, “koh-mo eh-stah oo-sted” uses the formal you usted. Notice that the verb is the same formal singular conjugation, you’re just adding clarification to ensure that you’re asking “how are you” directly and formally. This also works great in case you’ve forgotten the name of someone important, like a CEO or key client, and you can use it in place of their name.
Example:
- Gracias por venir, ¿cómo está Usted?
- Thank you for coming, how are you?
4. ¿Cómo estás tú?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-stahs too
- Meaning: How are you? (informal)
If someone asks you “how are you” and you reply, you may want to repeat the question back with the emphasis on, “How are you?” Usually, Spanish doesn’t require the personal pronoun because it is already made clear by the way you have conjugated the verb. So if you chose to say “koh-mo eh-stahs too,” it is simply to include a filler word or to reinforce or clarify. An example of using tú as clarification would be in a group setting, where you need to point or make eye contact with each individual as you ask them.
Example:
- Sandra, hace mucho que no hablamos, cómo estás tú?
- Sandra, it’s been a while since we’ve talked, how are you?
5. ¿Cómo estáis?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-st-ice
- Meaning: How are y’all?, How are you guys? (plural informal)
In Spain they use a conjugation specifically when speaking to a group informally, similar to the “y’all” of the southern US and “you guys” from the north of the States. “Koh-mo eh-st-ice” is a great opener. When spoken to a larger group of people it can stand on it’s own and doesn’t require a response from each person.
Example:
- Hola a todos y a todas, cómo estáis?
- Hello everyone, how are you all?
6. ¿Cómo están?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo eh-st-ahn
- Meaning: How are you all? (plural formal)
Throughout Latin America, the plural formal conjugation of “how are you all?” is always used when speaking to a group. Whether between friends or among official colleagues, “koh-mo eh-st-ahn” is multipurpose and always correct.
Example:
- Oye, Mónica y Ricardo, cómo están?
- Hey, Monica and Ricardo, how are you all?
7. ¿Cómo te sientes?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo teh see-en-tehs
- Meaning: How are you feeling?
After someone has been sick, you may want to ask “how are you feeling?” to be more specific in questioning how they are doing physically. “Koh-mo teh see-en-tehs” can also work if you want to ask what emotions someone may be feeling and it is appropriate to ask if you can sense someone was (or is) upset.
Example:
- ¿Cómo te sientes ahora?
- How are you feeling now?
8. ¿Cómo te va?
- Pronunciation: koh-mo teh vah
- Meaning: How’s it going?
“Koh-mo teh vah” can ask about the surrounding story, and doesn’t limit to asking a person about themselves. “How’s it going?” in with this conjugation is more informal.
Example:
- ¿Cómo te va el proyecto, Mario?
- How’s your project going, Mario?
Following up and positive answers
9. ¿Y tú?
- Pronunciation: Ee too
- Meaning: And you?, And yourself?
If someone has asked you how you are doing first and you don’t want to repeat the whole question with the same words back to them, “ee too” is your shortcut. “And you?” is a follow-up question that can save you lots of linguistic backflips, provided the question they asked you was a good one!
Example:
- Yo estoy muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?
- I am very well, thanks. And you?
10. Bien!
- Pronunciation: bee-ehn
- Meaning: good, well
Last but not least, you should know how to answer all of these questions with “bee-ehn”! “Good” can be used to answer “What’s up?” “How are you?” and “How’s it going?” across the board. It is more symbolic, and can be used even if you’re not feeling 100%.
Example:
- Muy bien, gracias por preguntar!
- Very good, thanks for asking!
11. Todo bien!
- Pronunciation: toh-doh bee-ehn
- Meaning: all good, all is well
A slight addition to the traditional response, it’s “all good” can diversify a string of responses. “Toh-doh bee-ehn” is a versatile response to most any question about how you are. Literally a “chill” response, todo tranquilo can also serve as “all good.” These phrases can be made into questions with the right intonation. ¿Todo bien? with questioning inflection becomes “All good?”
Example:
- Sí, todo bien por suerte.
- Yes, luckily, all is well.
Now you know a whole bunch of ways to ask How Are You in Spanish.
Now, do you know of any other ways of saying bye in Spanish? Leave a comment.
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