13 Casual & Formal Ways to Reply to “¿Cómo estás?”

Learn how to answer “How are you?” in Spanish like a pro

Co-authored by Luis de la Torre and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: October 10, 2025 Fact Checked

“¿Cómo estás?” is often one of the first phrases people learn in Spanish. It means “How are you?” so it’s important to know how to respond correctly. In this article, we’ll teach you some of the most common ways that native speakers answer the question (both formally and informally), with tips from language instructor Alejandra Alfonzo.

How to Answer “¿Cómo estás?”

Spanish teacher Luis de la Torre says “bien” (which means “good”) is the standard response to “¿Cómo estás?” Here are some other ways you can answer:

Muy bien: Very good
Muy feliz: Very happy
Más o menos: So-so
Mal: Bad
Excellente/Buenísimo: Excellent/Fantastic

1

“Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú/usted?”

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This standard response translates to “Very well, thanks. How about you?” You can never go wrong with this expression, which is why you’ll hear it all the time. It’s common to thank people after being asked how you are in Spanish, so adding a “gracias” to your responses is always appreciated.^{[1]
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- Tone down your enthusiasm by trading “muy bien” (“very well”) for “bien” (“well”).
- When to use “tú” or “usted”: Spanish distinguishes between the informal “tú” (used with friends and people your age or younger) and the formal “usted” (used to address strangers, people older than you, and authority figures). Both words mean “you.”
- It’s always polite to ask someone how they’re doing in return!

2

“Todo bien, gracias para preguntar. ¿Y tú/usted?”

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“Everything’s good” is a slightly more casual way to respond. “Todo bien” and “muy bien” are both ways of saying that you’re doing well, so feel free to use either. Follow this up by saying “gracias para preguntar” (“thanks for asking”) before asking the same question in response.^{[2]
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- “¿Todo bien?” can also be used as a question when you want to ask if everything is alright. You might hear this phrase from a waiter in a restaurant, for example.

3

“Super/Excellente/Buenísimo/Buenísima.”

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If you’re feeling particularly great, try one of these expressions. “Super” translates to “super” (no surprise!), “excellente” translates to “excellent,” and “buenísimo”/“buenísima” translate to “fantastic.”^{[3]
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- According to Alfonzo, Spanish uses gendered nouns and adjectives.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Alejandra Alfonzo
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  Expert Interview} Certain adjectives, like “buenísimo”/“buenísima,” have different endings depending on the gender of the noun they describe. Since you’re describing yourself, use “buenísimo” (ending in “-o”) if you’re a man and “buenísima” (ending in “-a”) if you’re a woman.
- The ending “e” is sometimes used by nonbinary people, so if you don’t want to use a gendered ending, try “buenísime.”
- Alfonzo says other ways to say “awesome” include “increíble” and “chido.”^{[5]
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4

“¡Muy feliz!”

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It translates to “very happy!” and can be used to start a story about something good that happened to you. For example, a conversation might go something like: “¿Cómo estás?” “¡Muy feliz! Estoy comenzando un nuevo trabajo hoy.” (“Very happy! I’m starting a new job today.”).^{[6]
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5

“Más o menos. ¿Y tú/usted?”

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“Más o menos” roughly translates to “so-so.” This is a common expression for when you’re just doing alright, but there are some other standard responses available as well. Try one of these expressions instead to vary up your language: “Regular”/“Normal” (“I’m doing okay”) or “Igual que siempre” (“Same as always”).^{[7]
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- “Así así” also translates to “so-so,” so you might say, “Así así. ¿Y tú/usted?”^{[8]
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- In Mexico, people also say “dos tres” to mean “so-so.”

6

“Muy ocupado/ocupada.”

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Try this expression out if you’re busy with work or other responsibilities. Or, say something like “Tengo mucho trabajo” (“I have a lot of work”) to switch things up while conveying the same meaning.^{[9]
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7

“Un poco cansado/cansada.”

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“A little tired” is another handy response to have in your back pocket. If you didn’t get enough sleep, try out this expression. Remember to use the adjective that corresponds to your gender, meaning men should say “cansado,” and women “cansada.” Nonbinary people may use “cansade.”^{[10]
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- If you’re feeling a bit more confident with your Spanish skills, add some more detail to your response. For example, say something like, “Un poco cansado. No dormí mucho anoche.” (“A little tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”)
- A similar response is “Tengo sueño,” which means “I’m sleepy.”

8

“Un poco enfermo/enferma.”

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If you’ve caught a cold or other minor illness, use this expression. It translates to “A little sick,” and is common when you’re dealing with a virus or other bug. Use the masculine form, “enfermo,” if you’re a man, the feminine form “enferma,” if you’re a woman, or the gender-neutral “enferme” if you’re nonbinary.^{[11]
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- If someone knows that you’ve been sick, they might ask you “¿Cómo estás?” to inquire about how you’ve been feeling since you last spoke to them. In that case, say “Un poco mejor” (“A bit better”) or “Estoy igual de enfermo” (“I’m still sick”).

9

“Mal.”

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Like in English, “bad” is another standard response to “¿Cómo estás?” If you tell someone that you’re not doing well, be ready to explain why—you might say something like “Mal. Estoy un poco enfermo.” (“Bad. I’m a little sick.”) Some other words you can use to express this idea are “horrible” (“horrible”) or “fatal” (“awful”).^{[12]
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- Another option is to say “No tan bien,” which translates to “not so well.” Use this phrase if you’re feeling a little under the weather or if you’re in a bit of a bad mood. For example, say “No tan bien, pero está bien,” which means “Not so well, but it’s okay.”

10

“Un poco triste.”

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It means “A little sad” and can be used to introduce a story about some unfortunate news. For example, you might say something like “Un poco triste. Mi novio me dejó ayer.” (“A little sad. My boyfriend dumped me yesterday.”)^{[13]
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11

“Estoy más calmado.”

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Someone might ask you “¿Cómo estás?” to see how you’re feeling after something surprising or shocking happened to you, like if you’ve had an accident. If that happens, using this expression can let them know that you’re feeling a bit better.^{[14]
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William C. Harvey, Medical Spanish Specialist

When responding to “¿Cómo estás?” in a healthcare setting, go beyond the habitual “Bien” to ask meaningful questions about the patient's symptoms, energy levels, mood, etc. An engaged response like “¿Ha tenido algún malestar recientemente?” (“Have you had any discomfort recently?”) shows sincere interest in their well-being.”

12

“No me quejo.”

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“No me quejo” means “No complaints.” If you’re ready to move beyond simple phrases like “bien” and “mal,” try something a little more conversational or sassy. “No me quejo” roughly translates to “no complaints,” so it’s a casual way of saying you’re doing well.^{[15]
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- Another casual option is to say “Aquí no más,” which means “Just chilling.” Similarly, “Aquí estamos” is like responding “It’s going” to the question “How’s it going?” in English.
- Alfonzo says, “Don’t get frustrated” if you don’t know all the words or slang terms. Start with the basics so you understand the general idea of what people are talking about.^{[16]
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13

“Bien bueno/buena.”

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Use this phrase to tease your friend or partner. “Bien bueno” literally means “very good,” but in slang, it sometimes means “really hot/sexy.” This is a fun response when you want to flirt with your partner or tease your friend.^{[17]
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- Another option is to say “Bien bonito/bonita,” which means “Very handsome/beautiful.”
- If you really want to be cheesy with your partner, respond to their question by saying, “Estoy paco pa’ comerte a besos,” which means “I’m about to smother you with kisses!”
- In other contexts, “bueno” is simply a way of saying “good.”

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Tips

Remember, learning a language is a process. “It’s not something you learn with a 30-second video,” says Alfonzo. “It’s going to take time, but consistency is key.”^{[19]
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