¿Cómo estás? / How are you?

Lesson Audio

Transcript

¿Cómo estás?

1. ¡Hola!
2. ¡Hola!
3. ¿Cómo estás?
4. Estoy bien, gracias.
5. ¿Tienes planes hoy?
6. Sí. Voy a encontrarme con algunos amigos.
7. ¿Puedo venir, también?
8. ¡Eso sería genial!

Grammar Notes

• In Spanish, there is one word to say hello, and it is "hola." You can use it to greet a friend or a teacher or a physician. It is semi-formal and friendly. Question marks and exclamation points are double signs in Spanish. Both signs are written in different directions, down and up, at the beginning and at the end of the sentence: ¡! ¿?
• "Hola" is the way you say hello or hi. It is the same word.
• The first word means how. The second word, "estás," includes two words in one, the verb "estar" (to be) is the first part of the word, and the final part of the word, "–ás," indicates that you are talking to a you. In Spanish, the verb changes its final part according to the person or persons you are talking to or talking about.
• The verb "estoy" is the conjugated form. It means that the first part of the word "est–" is the verb to be. The last part of the word "–oy" indicates I, first person.
• Spanish does not use helping verbs like English does. The words do you have are written in Spanish as a single verb form, "tienes," that includes the verb "tener" (to have). The ending indicates second person, you.
• In Spanish, it is not always necessary to say the pronoun "me" because the verb form indicates the person who is talking or referring to. In this case, the verb form "encontrarme" means meet me (verb + pronoun). It means that I'm going to meet the other person.
• In the verb form "puedo," it is understood that the speaker is referring to himself, I can. It includes the verb "poder" (to be able to). The end letter "–o" indicates the pronoun I. The Spanish word "también" means too or also.
• "Sería" is the conditional form of the verb "ser" (to be). The final part of the verb form ("–ía") indicates the would condition. In Spanish, the verb to be has two different meanings, "ser" or "estar." "Ser" means being someone or being somehow like "being a teacher" or "being happy." "Estar" means being somewhere or being somehow like "being at school" or "being happy." The context of the story will tell you if you use one or the other verb ("ser" or "estar").

Lesson Vocabulary

• ¡hola! = hello (formal)
• ¡hola! = hi (informal)
• cómo = how
• estoy = am I
• cómo estás = how are you
• yo = I
• bien = fine
• gracias = thank you
• tienes = have
• planes = plans
• hoy = today
• sí = yes
• voy = going
• encontrar = to meet
• algunos = some
• amigos = friends
• puedo = can
• venir = come
• también = too
• eso = that
• sería = would be
• genial = great

Translation

How are you?

1. Hello!
2. Hi!
3. How are you?
4. I'm fine, thank you.
5. Do you have plans today?
6. Yes. I'm going to meet some friends.
7. Can I come, too?
8. That would be great!

Translation (Literal)

How are you?

1. Hello!
2. Hello!
3. How "are-you"?
4. "Am-I" fine, thanks.
5. "Have-you" plans today?
6. Yes. Will-I "meet-myself" with some friends.
7. "Can-I" come, too?
8. That "be-would" great!

Cultural Notes

01 – Being Friendly and Fitting In

Foreigners have sometimes raised concerns that it is difficult to meet people in Latin America, and that they have only a handful of acquaintances in their places of residence. However, foreigners can easily avoid such scenarios by taking the initiative of reaching out to those around them. Simple greetings of “Buenos días” or “Buenas tardes” to a neighbor, shopkeeper, or a newspaper vendor would suffice. The next step is to introduce oneself by name and at the same time ask for the locals’ names, then remember them for the next meeting. This approach goes a long way in familiarizing one with the local culture and activities and may even grant one a local nickname. Giving nicknames is popular in most Latin American countries.

In social engagements, typical European punctuality does not apply in Latin America. Turning up on time would be too early and even be embarrassing in some cases. Finding preparations in place is an awkward and any foreigner would want to avoid that as it might even ruin the element of surprise that some occasions have to offer. In most occasions, Latin Americans usually turn up at least half an hour late, whether it is a funeral, a wedding, or a christening ceremony. If one wants people to turn up at seven o’clock, inviting them for half past six would be a good idea. In a date situation, the thirty-minute rule still applies. Relaxing and not being too strict on time is one of the secrets to having a wonderful time in Latin America.