QUICK ANSWER
"Cómo te va" is a form of "cómo te va", a phrase which is often translated as "how it's going". "Qué tal" is a form of "qué tal", a phrase which is often translated as "how is". Learn more about the difference between "cómo te va" and "qué tal" below.
cómo te va
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (informal) (in statements; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
a. how it's going
¿Qué tal tu nuevo trabajo? Quiero saber cómo va.How’s your new job? I want to hear how it’s going.
b. how things are going
Todos sabemos cómo te va en el trabajo, y estamos preocupados.Everyone knows how things are going at work, and we're worried.
2. (informal) (in questions; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
a. how's it going
¿Cómo te va hoy? - Eh, lo mismo de siempre.How's it going today? - Eh, just the same old same old.
c. how are you doing
Hace tiempo que no hablamos. ¿Cómo te va?We haven't talked in a while. How are you doing?
d. what's up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Cómo te va, mano? - De lo más bien. ¿Y tú?What's up, man? - Everything's OK. And you?
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.
