How big is it?

Question

This seems pretty basic Spanish to me, but I`m not quite sure how to ask what size something is. I was in a restaurant and wanted to ask how large the platter was, but wasn't sure how to say "How big is it'" Obviously a direct translation-como grande es'- doesn't work. Any ideas?

For that matter, how would you ask how tall something is'

Answer 1

1) ¿Qué tan grande es...?

2) ¿Cómo de grande es'?

The option number 1 is the only one used in Colombia. I didn't know about the number 2! Today I learned that. Thank you Lazarus.

I have heard some speakers from Mexico/Central America use a variation of #2 when asking gtrgrl's original question, 'How big is it'? (in contrast to "How big is X'"):
"¿Cómo es de grande'"

In reference to gtrgrl's second question, just substitute your other adjective, alto(a), in any of the three examples.

Answer 2

¡Hola Gtrgrl y bienvenida a los fros de español e inglés! Mi nombre es Eric y encantado.

Answer 3

¡Hola Gtrgrl y bienvenida a los fros de español e inglés! Mi nombre es Eric y encantada.

Answer 4

1) ¿Qué tan grande es...?

The option number 1 is the only one used in Colombia. I didn't know about the number 2! Today I learned that. Thank you Lazarus.

Answer 5

¿A qué distancia está [del]a [/del]Madrid? - How far is it to Madrid?

Does anyone know any more?

Only one little mistake, Patch, the comic

Answer 6

I think these are right

¿Cuánto mides? - How tall are you?
¿Cuánto pesas? - How much do you weigh?

but I'm not sure about this

¿A qué distancia está a Madrid? - How far is it to Madrid?

Does anyone know any more'

Answer 7

It is not a simple answer, actually, and I think it is good that you ask. You have several options:

1) ¿Qué tan grande es...?
2) ¿Cómo de grande es...?
3) ¿Cuán grande es...?

The first expression was common several centuries ago, and it sounds strange to the ears of people from Spain, where the expression is no longer in use. However, it is pretty much alive in most parts of Latin America, where it is probably the most used one. The second one is practically the only one used in Spain, but it is also used in some parts of America, where they prefer this one when they expect a precise answer, and they leave the first one when a precise the answer is not required.

The third expression is also an old [removed]almost Shakespeare-like), and it is not used that much nowadays, unless you want to sound sophisticated, but I believe that it is still in common use in some areas.