How have you been?
in Spanish¿Cómo has estado?
/KOH-moh ahs ehs-TAH-doh/
This is the most direct and universally understood translation. It's perfect for asking someone you haven't seen in a while how they've been during the time since you last met.
Asking '¿Cómo has estado?' is the perfect way to reconnect with a friend you haven't seen in a while.
💬Other Ways to Say It
¿Cómo te ha ido?
/KOH-moh teh ah EE-doh/
Literally 'How has it gone for you?', this is an extremely common and natural alternative. It focuses more on their experiences and life events rather than just their state of being.
¿Qué tal has estado?
/keh tahl ahs ehs-TAH-doh/
A slightly more casual version of the primary translation. Adding '¿Qué tal?' at the beginning makes it feel a little friendlier and less direct.
¿Cómo andas?
/KOH-moh AHN-dahs/
This literally means 'How do you walk?' but is used to mean 'How's it going?' or 'How are you doing?'. It's very versatile and can be used both as a simple greeting and for catching up.
¿Qué es de tu vida?
/keh ehs deh too VEE-dah/
This means 'What's of your life?' or more naturally, 'What's new with you?'. It's a very warm and engaging question that invites a longer story.
¿Cómo ha estado usted?
/KOH-moh ah ehs-TAH-doh oos-TEHD/
This is the formal version of the primary translation, using 'usted' instead of 'tú'. It shows respect and politeness.
¿Cómo le ha ido?
/KOH-moh leh ah EE-doh/
The formal 'usted' version of '¿Cómo te ha ido?'. It maintains a respectful distance while still sounding natural and interested.
¿Qué me cuentas?
/keh meh KWEHN-tahs/
Literally 'What do you tell me?', this is a very friendly and conversational way of asking 'What's new?' or 'Catch me up'.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose the best phrase for your situation.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cómo has estado? | Neutral | General situations when you haven't seen someone in a while. | You see the person every day (use '¿Cómo estás?' instead). |
| ¿Cómo te ha ido? | Neutral | Asking about their life experiences and events, not just their health. | You want a very quick, one-word answer. |
| ¿Cómo andas? | Informal | Casual check-ins with friends and peers. | Speaking with a boss, professor, or in any formal setting. |
| ¿Qué es de tu vida? | Informal | Catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in months or years. | You don't have time for a potentially long conversation. |
📈Difficulty Level
The sounds are generally straightforward for English speakers. The main challenge is not dropping the 'h' in 'has' (it's silent) and pronouncing the vowels cleanly.
This phrase uses the present perfect tense ('has' + 'estado'), which is an intermediate concept. Learners need to know how to form it for 'tú', 'usted', etc.
Choosing the right variation for the context and formality level requires some practice. Understanding that a real answer is expected is a key cultural difference.
Key Challenges:
- Mastering the present perfect tense (haber + past participle).
- Choosing the correct formality level (tú vs. usted).
- Knowing which variation to use in different regions.
💡Examples in Action
¡Hola, María! Cuánto tiempo sin verte. ¿Cómo has estado?
Hi, Maria! Long time no see. How have you been?
Buenas tardes, Señor Pérez. Me alegra verlo. ¿Cómo le ha ido desde nuestra última reunión?
Good afternoon, Mr. Perez. I'm happy to see you. How have you been since our last meeting?
Che, ¿cómo andás? Hace mil años que no hablamos.
Hey man, how's it going? It's been ages since we talked.
Abuela, ¡qué guapa estás! ¿Qué es de tu vida? Cuéntamelo todo.
Grandma, you look so beautiful! What's new in your life? Tell me everything.
🌍Cultural Context
Expect a Real Answer
Unlike in English where 'How are you?' can be a simple greeting, asking '¿Cómo has estado?' in Spanish often invites a genuine, more detailed response. Be prepared to listen and share a little about your own life in return.
Time Gap is Implied
Using '¿Cómo has estado?' specifically signals that some time has passed since you last saw the person. For someone you see every day, you would just use '¿Cómo estás?' ('How are you?'). This phrase acknowledges the gap in time.
Paired with Physical Greetings
This question is almost always part of a larger greeting ritual that can include a handshake, a hug, or one or two kisses on the cheek (depending on the region and relationship). It's a warm, personal exchange, not just a passing pleasantry.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
Mistake: "Learners might incorrectly say '¿Cómo has sido?'."
Correction: The correct form is '¿Cómo has estado?'.
Mixing up 'tú' and 'usted'
Mistake: "Using the informal '¿Cómo has estado?' with a respected elder or your boss."
Correction: Use the formal '¿Cómo ha estado usted?' or '¿Cómo le ha ido?'.
Literal Translation of 'Doing'
Mistake: "Translating 'How have you been doing?' word-for-word as '¿Cómo has estado haciendo?'."
Correction: Use '¿Cómo te ha ido?' or '¿Cómo has estado?'.
💡Pro Tips
Combine it for a Warmer Greeting
Make your greeting sound more natural and friendly by combining phrases. For example: '¡Hola, Ana! ¡Qué gusto verte! Oye, ¿cómo has estado?'. This sounds much more conversational than just walking up and asking the question.
Know When to Keep it Short
If you're just passing someone in the hallway and don't have time for a long chat, a simple '¿Qué tal?' or '¿Cómo vas?' is better. Save '¿Cómo has estado?' for when you actually have a minute to stop and listen to the answer.
Prepare a Simple Answer
Since you'll be asked this question too, have a simple answer ready. 'Todo bien, gracias. Un poco ocupado con el trabajo, ¿y tú?' ('All good, thanks. A little busy with work, and you?') is a perfect, natural response.
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
In Spain, '¿Qué tal?' is an incredibly versatile greeting that can mean anything from 'Hi' to 'How are you?' to 'How have you been?'. The context and your relationship with the person determine the meaning.
Mexico
'¿Cómo has estado?' is the standard and widely used. For very casual settings among friends, '¿Qué onda?' is an iconic Mexican slang greeting that often precedes the follow-up question.
Argentina & Uruguay
The use of 'vos' instead of 'tú' is universal. This changes the verb forms, so '¿Cómo andas?' replaces '¿Cómo andas?'. The word 'che' is a very common way to get someone's attention, like 'hey' or 'man'.
Caribbean (e.g., Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic)
It's common to explicitly include the pronoun 'tú', as in '¿Cómo tú estás?'. Regional slang is very prevalent, with greetings like '¿Qué es la que hay?' being extremely common among locals but less so with foreigners.
💬What Comes Next?
After you ask how they've been
Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?
Very well, thanks. And you?
Igualmente bien, gracias. Me alegro de verte.
I'm well too, thanks. I'm happy to see you.
They give you a more detailed, neutral answer
Pues aquí, en la lucha. Con mucho trabajo.
Well, here, struggling along. With a lot of work.
Te entiendo perfectamente. Espero que todo se calme pronto.
I understand completely. I hope everything calms down soon.
They share some good news
¡Excelente! De hecho, me acabo de comprometer.
Excellent! In fact, I just got engaged.
¡No me digas! ¡Qué buena noticia! ¡Felicidades!
You don't say! What great news! Congratulations!
🧠Memory Tricks
This connects the Spanish word 'estado' to the English words 'state' and 'status', making it easier to remember that it refers to a condition over a period of time.
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest difference is the expectation of sincerity. In English, 'How have you been?' can be a polite formality with no expectation of a real answer. In Spanish, it's a genuine inquiry that opens a conversation, and giving a one-word answer like 'Fine' can seem cold or dismissive.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: A direct, word-for-word translation ('¿Cómo estás haciendo?') is incorrect and makes no sense in Spanish. It translates to 'How are you making/doing something?'.
Use instead: The correct equivalent for 'How are you doing?' is '¿Cómo estás?', '¿Cómo te va?', or the informal '¿Cómo andas?'.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say 'Long time no see'
This is the perfect phrase to say right before you ask '¿Cómo has estado?'.
How to say 'I'm fine, thanks'
You need to know how to answer the question when someone asks it back to you.
How to ask 'And you?'
This is the essential follow-up to keep the conversation going after you've answered.
How to say 'What's new?'
A great alternative and follow-up question to learn for casual conversations.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: How have you been?
Question 1 of 3
You run into your former university professor, whom you respect greatly, at a conference. How do you politely ask how she has been?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between '¿Cómo estás?' and '¿Cómo has estado?'
Think of it this way: '¿Cómo estás?' means 'How are you right now?' and is for people you see regularly. '¿Cómo has estado?' means 'How have you been since the last time I saw you?' and is used when a period of time (days, weeks, or more) has passed.
How do I say 'How have you been?' formally to my boss?
The safest and most polite options are '¿Cómo ha estado usted?' or, even more naturally, '¿Cómo le ha ido?'. Both use the formal 'usted' and show respect in a professional setting.
Can I just use '¿Qué tal?' instead?
Yes, often you can! '¿Qué tal?' is extremely versatile. It can be a quick 'What's up?'. If you say it with a warm tone to someone you haven't seen in a while, it can absolutely mean 'How have you been?'. It's a great, slightly more casual all-purpose greeting.
What's a simple, polite answer if I don't want to give a long story?
A perfect response is 'Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?'. If you want to add a little more without getting too personal, you can say 'Todo bien, mucho trabajo como siempre.' ('All good, lots of work as always.').
Why do some people say '¿Cómo andas?' instead?
'Andar' (to walk) is often used as a more casual synonym for 'estar' (to be). So, '¿Cómo andas?' is a very common, informal way to say 'How's it going?' or 'How are you doing?'. It's especially popular in Latin America.
How does the 'vos' form change this question in countries like Argentina?
In countries that use 'vos' (like Argentina and Uruguay), you'll hear '¿Cómo andás?' instead of '¿Cómo andas?'. For the main phrase, it would be '¿Cómo has estado vos?', though in practice, the '¿Cómo andás?' form is far more common for this kind of greeting.
📚Continue Learning Spanish Phrases
Explore More Phrases in These Categories
Find similar phrases to expand your Spanish vocabulary:
Want to Learn More Spanish Phrases?
Browse our complete collection of Spanish phrases organized by situation, from basic greetings to advanced conversations. Perfect for travelers, students, and anyone learning Spanish.
View All Spanish Phrases →