30+ Easy Ways To Ask How Are You In Spanish

Are you looking to build long-lasting bonds with Spanish-speaking people? Along with greetings like ‘Hola‘ (hello), knowing how to ask how are you in Spanish is essential for any communication between friends, family, or co-workers. 

In Hispanic countries, it is a cultural and respectful norm to ask the other person how they are. Show that you care about the other person, that you care about what they’ve been going through on a day-to-day basis, and ultimately show support and understanding.

What if he told you that he is not well? You never know when someone needs to talk about their feelings. Latin American people are charming and willing to give someone a word of encouragement if they tell them they are unwell.

I bet you want to know all the possible ways to talk with your Hispanic friends about how they are doing. So today’s post will cover all the alternatives, plus how to respond if others ask how you are doing in Spanish. 

Let’s begin!

How To Say How Are You In Spanish?

The singular and informal way is ‘¿Cómo estás?,'[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo estás?[/Speechword] while the formal and singular version is ‘¿Cómo está?‘[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo está?[/Speechword]

If you are talking with more than one person, you can say ‘¿Cómo están?‘ which is a neutral phrase, meaning that you can use it in both formal and informal settings.

Now, I would like to focus on understanding the meaning of this phrase in-depth prior to learning about all the other phrases.  

So, what is the exact meaning of the phrase ‘¿Cómo estás?’  The word ‘Cómo’ is a question word that translates to ‘how.’ While ‘Estás’ is the verb ‘Estar’ (to be) conjugated in the present tense. 

So the meaning of this phrase represents the intent to know the status of the other person; how they are, either physically or emotionally.

Another important point to learn is that Spanish from Latin America and Spanish from Spain differ from each other in many aspects. So, if you are traveling to Spain, the correct way of saying this phrase would be ‘¿Cómo estáis?‘

See the differences in the examples below:

Example In Spanish From Spain:

• A: ¿Cómo estáis vosotros hoy? (How are you all today?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo estáis vosotros hoy?[/Speechword]
• B: Estamos muy bien, gracias! (We are fine, thank you!)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Estamos muy bien, gracias[/Speechword]

Example In Spanish From Latin American Countries:

• A: ¿Cómo están ustedes hoy? (How are you all today?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo están ustedes hoy?[/Speechword]
• B: Estamos muy bien, gracias! (We are fine, thank you!)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Estamos muy bien, gracias[/Speechword]

Now that you know this key phrase, let’s get to know more advanced phrases: 

All Common Phrases, Including Slang:

The following are all the phrases you can use to ask someone how are you in Spanish in formal, neutral, informal, and slang. 

Formal & Neutral

• ¿Cómo está? (How are you? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo está?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo están todos? (How are you all? – plural) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo están todos?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo le ha ido? (How have you been? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo le ha ido?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo está usted? (How are you doing? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo está usted?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo le va? (How are you? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo le va?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo se siente? (How are you feeling? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo se siente?[/Speechword]

Formal Context Examples:

• Singular
  • A: ¿Cómo está usted? (How are you?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Cómo está usted[/Speechword]
  • B: Muy bien, gracias, ¿y usted? (Very well, thanks, and you?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Muy bien, gracias, ¿y usted?[/Speechword]
• Plural
  • A: ¿Cómo están ustedes? (How are you?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo están ustedes?[/Speechword]
  • B: Todos estamos bien, gracias. (We are all fine thank you.)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Todos estamos bien, gracias[/Speechword]

Informal

When you speak Spanish, you should try to see if the other person is talking to you formally or informally. And if you are talking with someone close such as friends or family, it is safe to say an informal greeting followed by any of these phrases.

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo estás?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo va todo? (How’s it going? – plural or singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo va todo?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo te va? (How are you doing? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo te va?[/Speechword]
• ¿Que hay de nuevo? (What’s new?) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Que hay de nuevo?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué es de tu vida? (Literally means: What about your life? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué es de tu vida?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo andas? (How are you? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo andas?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué hay de nuevo? (What’s new?) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué hay de nuevo?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué tal? (What’s up?) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué tal?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo va la cosa? / ¿Cómo va la vida? (How is life going? – singular or plural) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo va la cosa?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué te cuentas? (What’s up? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué te cuentas?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo van las cosas? (How are things going? – singular or plural) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo van las cosas? [/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo te sientes? (How are you feeling? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo te sientes?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo les va? (How is it going? – plural) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo les va?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo te ha ido? (How have you been? – singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo te ha ido?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué tal estás? (How are you? – Singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué tal estás?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué tal están? (How are you? – Plural) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué tal están?[/Speechword]
• ¿Cómo vas? (How are things going? – Singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo vas?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué cuentas? (What’s up? – Singular) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué cuentas?[/Speechword]

Informal Contexts Examples:

• #1
  • A: Hola, qué tal! Qué hay de nuevo? (Hey, what’s up! What’s new?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Hola, qué tal! Qué hay de nuevo[/Speechword]
  • B: Hola, todo bien, no me puedo quejar. (Hi, all good. I can’t complain.)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Hola, todo bien, no me puedo quejar[/Speechword]

Slang 

Let’s get to know some words in Spanish Slang, known as ‘Jerga’ used across different Spanish speaking countries.

• ¿Cómo andas? (How are you? – Popular across Latin America) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Cómo andas?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué hubo? (What was there? – Popular in Colombia) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué hubo?[/Speechword]
• Qué onda? (What’s up?) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Qué onda?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué más? (What’s up? – Popular in Ecuador and other Latin American countries) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué más?[/Speechword]
• ¿Qué pasa? (What’s up?) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]¿Qué pasa?[/Speechword]

Slang Examples In Conversations:

• #1
  • A: Hola, ¿qué más? (Hi, what’s up?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Hola, ¿qué más?[/Speechword]
  • B: Hola! Nada nuevo… ¿y tú? (Hi! Nothing new. And you?)[Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Hola! Nada nuevo… ¿y tú?[/Speechword]
  • A: Todo bien. (All good.) [Speechword voice=”Spanish Latin American Female” isinline]Todo bien[/Speechword]

How Would You Respond?

Whenever someone asks you ‘cómo estás?’ after they greet you, you need to have some phrases under your sleeve to answer back. But that goes beyond saying, ‘I’m good.’ There are many alternatives that you can choose from and start a possible conversation afterward while also leveraging asking the other person about how they are as well. 

Ready To Start Spanish Conversations?

Did this vocabulary list prompt your curiosity about the Spanish language? I’m sure you now want to learn more and talk with Spanish speakers!

One of the essential keys to language learning is mimicking the words and phrases locals use in everyday conversations. That is when you finally get to speak and sound like a local does.  

So continue practicing today’s list of phrases to be prepared for any situation, informal or formal. Plus, impress your Spanish-speaking friends by talking to them with some slang too! 

If you enjoyed today’s post, don’t hesitate to continue learning how to introduce yourself in Spanish, apologize, say thank you, and you are welcome. We are here to help you improve your skills every day! 

Ready To Fully Learn Spanish?

Are you still curious whether you should try Ling App or not? We can motivate you by sharing how effective this app has been for many people worldwide! 

Besides keeping your mind sharp and making travel easier, enhancing your resume, and opening millions of possibilities for your future, learning Spanish is also beneficial to make communication effortless. It helps you interact and engage with those you have always wanted to talk to without restraint or language barriers. 

Maybe you have family members who live in Latin America and can’t communicate in English. Wouldn’t it be amazing to make them feel as joyful as ever while listening to your efforts to speak their native language? 

That is the power of language. And we have it in our hands to create stronger bonds, learn about different cultures, and, most importantly, overcome ourselves daily. 

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Are you ready? Your goal of talking like a pro in a Spanish-speaking country is just a click away, so start learning Spanish with Ling App now!

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