vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Cómo fue" is a form of "cómo fue", a phrase which is often translated as "how was". "Cómo era" is a form of "cómo era", a phrase which is often translated as "what it was like". Learn more about the difference between "cómo fue" and "cómo era" below.
cómo fue(
koh
-
moh
fweh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
b. what was ... like
¿Cómo fue el examen? ¿Era de selección múltiple?What was the test like? Was it multiple choice?
a. how ... was
¡Quiero que me cuentes todo! Dime cómo fue la ceremonia.I want you to tell me everything! Tell me how the ceremony was.
b. what ... was like
No puedo imaginar cómo fue este extraño ritual.I can't imagine what this strange ritual was like.
cómo era(
koh
-
moh
eh
-
rah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. what it was like
Ya no recuerdo cómo era aquello de vivir en una aldea.I can't remember what it was like to live in a small village.
b. what he was like (masculine)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
No sé cómo era. Solo lo conocí brevemente.I don't know what he was like. I only met him briefly.
c. what she was like (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Hablemos de tu madre ahora. Cuéntame cómo era.Let's talk about your mother now. Tell me what she was like.
d. what it looked like (related to physical appearance)
El barrio entonces era un lugar muy tranquilo. En esta foto se ve cómo era.The neighborhood was a quiet place back then. You can see what it looked like in this picture.
e. what he looked like (masculine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Mi papá era muy elegante. Recuerdo bien cómo era.Mi father was very elegant. I remember well what he looked like.
f. what she looked like (feminine) (related to physical appearance)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Si conociste a tu abuela, describe cómo era.If you met your grandmother, describe what she looked like.
