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QUICK ANSWER
"Cómo es" is a form of "cómo es", a phrase which is often translated as "what's he like". "Qué tal" is a form of "qué tal", a phrase which is often translated as "how is". Learn more about the difference between "cómo es" and "qué tal" below.
cómo es(
koh
-
moh
ehs
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. what's he like (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
¿Conoces al hermano de Marta? - No. ¿Cómo es?Have you met Marta's brother? - No. What's he like?
b. what does he look like (masculine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Cuéntame de tu novio. ¿Cómo es? - Alto y delgado.Tell me about your boyfriend. What does he look like? - He's tall and thin.
c. what's she like (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
¿Cómo es y a qué se dedica? - ¿Alicia? Es muy simpática y es enfermera.What's she like and what does she do for a living? - Alicia? She's very nice and she's a nurse.
d. what does she look like (feminine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
¿Cómo es? ¿Es rubia o morocha?What does she look like? Is she blonde or brown-haired?
e. what's it like
¿Has estado en Cádiz? - No. ¿Cómo es y a qué distancia está de aquí?Have you ever been to Cadiz? - No. What's it like and how far is it from here?
f. what does it look like (related to physical appearance)
¿Alguna vez viste un ornitorrinco? ¿Cómo es?Have you ever seen a platypus? What does it look like?
2. (formal) (in questions; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. what are you like
¿Cómo es en la intimidad? Seguro que es usted muy distinto a como se muestra en su vida pública.What are you like in your private life? I'm sure you're very different from the way you show yourself in your public life.
b. what do you look like (related to physical appearance)
¿Cómo lo reconozco?¿Cómo es? - Soy bajo y con barba.How am I going to recognize you? What do you look like? - I'm short and with a beard.
a. what he's like (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
¿Tienes un nuevo novio? Dime cómo es. Me lo tienes que presentar.Do you have a new boyfriend? Tell me what he's like. You have to introduce him to me.
b. what he looks like (masculine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
¿Es buenmozo? Dime cómo es.Is he handsome? Tell me what he looks like.
c. what she's like (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
No sé cómo es porque apenas la conozco.I don't know what she's like because I barely know her.
d. what she looks like (feminine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Martín me preguntó por tu hermana. Quiere saber cómo es.Martin asked me about your sister. He wants to know what she looks like.
e. what it's like
Estar desempleado no es el fin del mundo. - Tú no sabes cómo es porque nunca te encontraste en esa situación.Being unemployed isn't the end of the world. - You don't know what it's like because you never found yourself in that situation.
f. what it looks like (related to physical appearance)
Puedo ayudarte a buscar tu abrigo, pero dime cómo es.I can help you look for your coat, but tell me what it looks like.
g. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me pregunto cómo es Pablo. Todo el mundo lo encuentra fascinante, y yo estoy deseando conocerlo.I wonder what Pablo is like. Everyone finds him fascinating, and I'm looking forward to meeting him.
Luisa me explicó cómo es su apartamento, pero no tenía ninguna foto.Luisa explained what her apartment is like, but she didn't have any photos.
4. (formal) (in statements; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. what you're like
Sé cómo es de verdad. A mí no me engaña.I know what you're really like. You won't fool me.
b. what you look like (related to physical appearance)
Si me dice cómo es me será más sencillo encontrarlo en el bar.If you tell me what you look like it'll be easier for me to find you at the bar.
qué tal(
keh
tahl
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. how is (singular) (present)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
¿Qué tal el negocio familiar? Escuché que tienen problemas económicos.How is the family business? I heard you're having financial problems.
¿Qué tal tu madre? - Se encuentra mejor, pero debe guardar cama.How's your mother? - She's feeling better, but she needs to stay in bed.
b. how was (singular) (past)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
¿Qué tal tu día? - Estuve muy ocupado con cosas del trabajo.How was your day? - I was very busy with work.
e. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Qué tal el examen? - Bien, creo que aprobaré.How did the exam go? - Well, I think I'll pass.
Ayer fui a ver la última película de James Bond. - ¿Y qué tal?I went to see the last James Bond movie yesterday? - And how was it?
a. how about
¿Qué tal si dejamos de quejarnos y comenzamos a resolver los problemas nosotros mismos?How about we stop whining and start solving the problems by ourselves?
b. what if
Nuestro partido necesita más apoyo. - ¿Qué tal si nos aliamos a los conservadores?Our party needs more support. - What if we form a coalition with the conservatives?
a. oh, please
No haces mucho en la casa. - ¡Qué tal! Yo soy el que limpia todos los días.You don't do much around the house. - Oh, please! I'm the one who cleans up every day.
