¿cómo estás
— Hola, Ana. ¿Cómo estás?
— Hi, Ana. How are you?
A greeting asking about someone's well-being or current state.
¿Cómo estás? ¿Todo bien?
How are you? Everything okay?
— ¿Cómo estás hoy? — Estoy un poco cansado.
— How are you today? — I'm a bit tired.
Used in informal settings with friends, family, or peers. The formal version is '¿cómo está?' (singular) or '¿cómo están?' (plural).
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Pro Tip
Casual vs. Formal
Use '¿cómo estás?' with friends, family, or people your age. Use '¿cómo está?' when speaking to elders, strangers, or in professional settings.
Gold Rule
Reply Expectations
After asking '¿cómo estás?', expect a brief response about well-being. It’s polite to reciprocate by asking the same question back.
Word Origin
From 'cómo' (how) + 'estás' (you are, 2nd person singular present of 'estar'). 'Estar' derives from Latin 'stare' (to stand, to be in a state).
Usage Notes
Always used as a question. The expected response is typically 'Bien, gracias' (Fine, thanks) or 'Muy bien' (Very well). In some regions, it may be shortened to '¿cómo?' in casual speech.