There are a lot of new Spanish speakers who frequently disagree about which one to use: Qué tal” or “cómo estás?” Since the two terms are frequently used interchangeably, it should come as no surprise.
While the two of them are by and large said to get some information about the prosperity of a person or thing, truly one is preferred utilized over the other in certain circumstances as well as the other way around.
Because of this, you may have pondered the question, “Is there really any difference between qué tal and cómo estás, or do they only exist to play with the minds of new Spanish learners like yourself?”
In the wake of perusing this article, you will have a clearer image of these two familiar expressions: when and where to ask someone how they are, and when to use one over the other.
Que Tal Vs Como Estas: The major difference
The principal qualification between Que Tal and Qué Tal is that Spanish speakers use Qué Tal. when they are more connected to the subject being inquired about or feel more connected to it, subsequently, it is best utilized in a casual environment.
Como Estas, on the other hand, works best when you don’t feel connected to or close to the person you’re asking about. Thus, it is best utilized in a conventional setting.
All in all, Que Tal is an indent more loose and casual than ¿Cómo está/s
In any case, the distinction between the two expressions is unobtrusive since they are normally utilized reciprocally.
Que Tal Vs Como Estas: What similarities do they share?
Regardless, the two articulations are incredibly normal among Spanish speakers and the two of them pass on the message of “How are you” that proposes a straightforward easygoing hello like “What’s up”
Subsequently, the two expressions accomplish a similar consequence of getting some information about the situation with a person or thing.
What’s more, both “Qué tal?” and “How are you? work actually as normal Spanish good tidings and ice breakers.
At the point when a local of Spain hears both of the expressions, they can undoubtedly decipher it as a hello question, for example, “What’s going on?”, ” How is it with you?”, or then again essentially “How are you?”
However, the similarities extend somewhat beyond these. Here are alternate ways the two expressions are compared:
- The two expressions, by all accounts, can be effectively ordered as casual, making them reasonable for regular discussion.
- You can utilize both ¿Qué tal? and “How are you?” counting among companions, relatives, and partners, even though one best suits a few settings than the other.
- The ¿Qué tal? furthermore, ¿Cómo estás? are frequently used and understood in Spanish-speaking nations.
- One more likeness between ¿Qué tal? furthermore, ¿Cómo estás? Is that they are in many cases utilized as a primer hello before beginning a discussion or posing more unambiguous inquiries.
To put it another way, asking someone how they are doing by using either “Que tal” or “Como estas” as a greeting is not a big deal.
When do you use Que Tal?
The best circumstance to utilize Que tal is the point at which you are addressing somebody you are near and in a more relaxed environment – while conversing with your sibling, schoolmate, companion, or a more youthful person.
You can likewise utilize “Que tal” to ask somebody how they are doing or the way that things are going. Compared to Cómo estás, it works best in an informal setting. You can also use Que tal to start a conversation in a Spanish-speaking environment. It is a respectful however cordial method for imparting your advantage in somebody’s prosperity.
Most times, when I use Que tal rather than Como estas, I get responses like “Bien, gracias” (Fine, much appreciated) or “Task bien” (All around great).
Here is an illustration of when you can utilize Que tal:
- On the off chance that your closest companion just showed up from an excursion, you can begin a discussion with “¿qué tal el viaje?” signifying “How was your outing?”
- On the off chance that your more youthful sibling just finished his test, you can communicate your advantage in his prosperity by saying “¿qué tal el examen?” and that signifies “How was your test”
- You can likewise utilize the Que Tal when you expect to start an action. For example “¿qué tal si céntimos juntos?” and that signifies “could we eat together?”
When do you use Como Estas?
Como Estas, on the other hand, is best used when speaking in a formal setting. For example, while addressing a chief, or a more established person in a conventional setting, or when you expect to extend regard with your inquiry.
Although it is still a common Spanish phrase for asking about someone’s health, it does not convey the most casual tone. All things considered, “Como Estas” is best utilized in a conventional setting and to reflect graciousness while showing interest in somebody’s life or prosperity.
You likewise use Como Estas when the person you are conversing with is meeting you interestingly. It works best when used to start a more straightforward, direct, and serious conversation while still establishing rapport. Take, for instance, a conversation with a client or customer.
Since many people who speak Spanish interpret the two terms interchangeably, the response you get when you use Como Estas may not differ from the one you get when you see Que Tal.
Which is more formal? ‘¿Qué tal?’ or ‘¿Cómo estás?’
Most of the time, both “Qué tal?” what’s more “¿Cómo estás?” are casual good tidings. Be that as it may, “¿Cómo estás?” is somewhat more formal than the previous in light of the fact that it has the second-person pronoun “tú.” So when you end up in conventional circumstances, “¿Cómo está?” is the most appropriate greeting.
Then again, “Que tal!” says, “What’s up!” so it’s casual and serves as an abbreviated form of getting some information about somebody’s prosperity, regardless of whether you need to begin a discussion
By and by, you wouldn’t have the option to put a benchmark on the tremendous contrast in convention between the two since they are usually utilized in relaxed, regular discussions.
It is, truth be told, barely viewed as unseemly when you utilize any of them with companions, relatives, and partners.
You can, for instance, blatantly use any of the phrases interchangeably when you intend to address someone with formal respect. Being worldwide about utilizing Como Estas would be ideal.
Expressions with ‘qué tal’ Vs ‘cómo estás’
Knowing the differences between Que Tal and Como Estas is one thing; applying them to your expressions is another.
We will take a gander at instances of articulations involving the two expressions in various settings and situations
Using “¿Qué tal?”
- When you’re in a relaxed environment with a companion, you can say “¿Qué tal estuvo tu blade de semana?” and that signifies “Did you have a good end of the week?”
- You can ask your close business associate, “What will you do with the new project?” when you’re at work. which translates to “How is your new project going?”
- In the event that you wind up in a get-together and sandwiched between colleagues, you can begin the discussion on a cordial note by saying “¿Qué tal task por aquí?” and that signifies “How’s the beginning and end going here?”
- While strolling around the air terminal in Spain, you can say “¿Qué tal andas?” to ask a passerby, “How are you doing?”
- In a conversation with a family member, the expression “Que Tal estas,” which translates to “How are you?” works well.
Using “¿Cómo estás?”
- Assume you’re in a conference with a client, you can open the conversation with “¿Cómo estás hoy?” and that signifies “What’s going on with you?”
- A Spanish specialist proposing to be proficient while getting some information about the prosperity of his/her patient can say “¿Cómo estás pasando?” and that signifies “What’s going on with you?”
- In a similar light, a specialist in a guiding meeting with his client can say “¿Cómo estás de ánimo?” to begin the session, and it means “How are you feeling?”
So which is better to use?
At the primary concern, which of the two expressions Que tal and Como Estas is the better articulation to utilize? Indeed, it eventually relies upon the setting of the circumstance, your relationship with the person you are getting some information about, and afterward, the thing you’re hoping to accomplish with the articulation.
Both “¿Qué tal?” what’s more “¿Cómo estás?” are OK articulations for hello somebody in Spanish.
Yet, assuming we need to pick one between these two articulations, I suggest you use “¿Cómo estás?” because it can be used in a variety of settings despite being slightly more formal. It’s the best choice, especially if you don’t know what to say.