¿Cómo es?

Question

I have confused myself with the meaning of ¿Cómo es? at lot.
In one of the lessons, I learnt that it is used to ask ´How is'´ and that it is the formal form of it, the informal form being ¿Cómo eres?

But then, I´ve heard it being used elsewhere too. Could anyone please explain it´s meaning and where can it can used.

Answer 1

I have confused myself with the meaning of ¿Cómo es? at lot.

In one of the lessons, I learnt that it is used to ask ´How is'´ and that it is the formal form of it, the informal form being ¿Cómo eres?

But then, I´ve heard it being used elsewhere too. Could anyone please explain it´s meaning and where can it can used.

You can look in our Reference section for a discusssion on the differences between Ser and Estar, but in this case it is simply:

¿Cómo estás? or ¿Cómo está? = How are you? How are you doing? How are you feeling? Similar to our English greeting.

¿Cómo es? or ¿Cómo eres? is asking about your character, your nature or a physical description...short, tall, smart, neurotic, introvert, extrovert, etc. It's usually described as permanent qualites, but the permanent/temporary argument can fail you in cases.

Whether you ask it formally or informally doesn't effect the overall meaning of what you are asking as much as whether you use Estar or Ser.

Answer 2

HI anne, nice to see you

I always translate

How is peter? ¿Qué tal/Cómo está Peter?

What is Peter like? ¿Cómo es Peter?

As Quentin has already pointed out we establish the difference using ser or estar, in English it is a completely different question. Difficult for Spanish students too.

Answer 3

Thankyou Qfreed and Heidi.

Now it's pretty clesr to me.