¿Cómo estás? in Spanish - Taronja school. (2024)

Commonly used in both formal and informal settings, understanding its nuances is key to mastering everyday conversations in Spain, especially in culturally rich regions like Valencia.

• The basics.
• But how do we answer this question?
• Spanish idioms to express our feelings.
• Expanding your conversation skills.
• Pragmatics of Conversation with “¿Cómo estás?”
• “Cómo estás”. Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Countries
• Conclusion.
• Listen.
• Practical exercises.

¿Cómo estás? The Basics

• Formal vs Informal:
  • “¿Cómo está usted?” is a formal way of asking how someone is feeling.
  • “¿Cómo estás?” is more informal and used among friends or peers

In Spanish, generally, the use of “usted“, instead of “tú“, implies a formal tone.

¿cómo está usted?

¿cómo estás? (tú)

But how do we answer this question?

Expressing Your Feelings

• Using “estar” for Physical and Emotional States:
  • Responses like “Estoy bien, gracias” (I’m fine, thanks) and “Estoy mal” (I do not feel well) are common.
  • Avoid using “ser” in this context, as it implies a permanent state.

WARNING: We do not use the verb SER. You can read in this article the differences between ‘Ser’ and ‘Estar’.

• The Reflexive Verb “encontrarse”:
  • “Me encuentro bien, gracias” (I feel good, thanks) can be used for a more personal touch.
  • “No me encuentro bien” (I don’t feel good).

• Expressing Physical Sensations with “tener”:
  • Use this verb for feelings like cold, heat, hunger, or thirst (e.g., “Tengo frío” – I’m cold).
  • -> Tengo frío (I’m cold).
  • -> Tengo calor (I’m hot).
  • -> Tengo hambre (I’m hungry).
  • -> Tengo sed (I’m thirsty).

Likewise, we use these SPANISH IDIOMS to say that we are good, bad, tired, etc.:

TENER UNA SALUD DE HIERRO: It is said of someone who is very healthy and never has any illnesses.

ESTAR COMO UN ROBLE: When a person is strong and healthy like an oak tree.

ESTAR COMO UNA ROSA: To have a very good appearance and a good colour in the face.

ESTAR REVENTADO: To be extremely tired. Usually used to talk about physical exhaustion.

ESTAR HECHO POLVO: To be very tired or sad for some reason.

ESTAR ALICAÍDO: To be tired, depressed or mentally exhausted.

TENER AGUJETAS: The pain felt after physical exercise. Usually when you are not used to it.

ESTAR PACHUCHO: Being unwell or slightly ill.

TENER MALA CARA: Looking bad. Dark circles under the eyes and pale skin due to illness or motion sickness.

QUEDARSE EN LOS HUESOS: Losing a lot of weight.

VER LAS ESTRELLAS: Severe pain after a blow, or being in a lot of pain due to illness.

ESTIRAR LA PATA: It means to die. It is a very informal expression.

Expanding Your Conversation Skills

• Learn related phrases for greetings and farewells to enhance your conversational fluency in Spanish.

Greetings

1. Buenos días – Good morning
2. Buenas tardes – Good afternoon/evening
3. Hola, ¿qué tal? – Hi, how are you?
4. ¿Qué pasa? – What’s up? (Informal)
5. Encantado/Encantada (de conocerte) – Pleased to meet you (for males/females)
6. ¿Cómo van las cosas? – How are things going?

Farewells

1. Adiós – Goodbye
2. Hasta luego – See you later
3. Hasta mañana – See you tomorrow
4. Que tengas un buen día – Have a good day
5. Nos vemos – See you (Informal)
6. Cuidate – Take care (Informal)

These phrases can be used in various social contexts, ranging from formal to casual, and are essential for everyday conversations in Spanish-speaking environments.

Regional Idioms and Expressions: Understanding ‘¿Cómo estás?’ and Its Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Countries:

Here are more examples of regional idioms and expressions from various Spanish-speaking regions that are used similarly to “¿Cómo estás?”:

Argentina:

In Argentina, it’s common to hear “¿Cómo andás?” or “¿Todo bien?”. The use of “vos” instead of “tú” for informal ‘you’ is typical, so the phrase becomes “¿Cómo andás vos?”.

Colombia:

Colombians often use “¿Qué más?” or “¿Qué hubo?” as casual greetings, similar to “¿Cómo estás?”. These phrases are friendly and typically used among peers.

Spain:

In Spain, especially among the younger generation, “¿Qué pasa?” is a common informal greeting, equivalent to “What’s happening?” or “What’s up?” in English.

Chile:

In Chile, “¿Cómo estai?” is a common informal way of asking “How are you?”. The word “estai” is a Chilean informal form of “estás”.

Peru:

Peruvians might use “¿Cómo estás?” or “¿Qué tal?” for greetings. A more colloquial expression could be “¿Cómo va?”, which is similar to “How’s it going?”

Central America (e.g., Guatemala, Honduras):

In Central American countries, “¿Qué onda?” is also widely used, similar to Mexico. It’s a very informal and friendly way to greet someone.

Puerto Rico:

In Puerto Rico, you might hear “¿Qué es la que hay?”, which is a very informal way of saying “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”

Venezuela:

Venezuelans might use “¿Qué más?” or “¿Cómo vas?” in casual conversations, similar to “How are you?”

Conclusion

“¿Cómo estás?” is more than just a simple inquiry – it’s a window into the expressive world of Spanish language and culture. By understanding and using these phrases appropriately, you’ll enrich your communication and connect more deeply with Spanish speakers. You can learn more Spanish in our onsite intensive courses or with our online lessons. Contact us for more info.

Listen

¡Hola! Soy Carlos. Hoy, voy a encontrarme con mi amiga María en el parque. Cuando la veo, le digo: ‘¡Hola, María! ¿Cómo estás?‘ Ella sonríe y responde: ‘¡Hola, Carlos! Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú, cómo estás?‘ Yo respondo: ‘También estoy bien, gracias.‘ Después, caminamos juntos y hablamos sobre nuestros días.

¿Cómo estás?, practical exercises

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