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"Qué tal" is a form of "qué tal", a phrase which is often translated as "how is". "Tío" is a noun which is often translated as "uncle". Learn more about the difference between "tío" and "qué tal" below.
el tío(
tee
-
oh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (relative)
a. uncle
Mi tío se vistió de Papá Noel para la fiesta navideña.My uncle dressed up as Santa Claus for the Christmas party.
2. (colloquial) (male) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. guy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Viste al tío pidiendo limosna con traje de Armani? ¡Qué locura!Did you see the guy begging in the Armani suit? Madness!
b. dude (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Oye, Paco, hay un tío en la puerta que dice ser tu hermano.Hey, Paco, there's a dude at the door claiming to be your brother.
c. bloke (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Hay un tío en el mercado de pescado que vende un bacalao riquísimo.There's a bloke at the fish market who sells a delicious cod.
3. (colloquial) (form of address) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. pal (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Oye, tío! No le hables así a mi esposa.Hey, pal! Don't talk to my wife like that.
b. dude (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Oye, tío! Se te cayó la cartera.Hey, dude! You dropped your billfold.
c. mate (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¡Mira, tío! Ya te pagué. O me das la mercancía o llamaré a la poli.Look, mate! I already paid you. Either you give me the merchandise, or I'll call the cops.
los tíos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. aunt and uncle (couple)
A Adela la criaron sus tíos porque se quedó huérfana a edad muy temprana.Adela was raised by her aunt and uncle because she was orphaned at an early age.
b. uncle and aunt (couple)
Voy a pasarme el verano a la casa de mis tíos.I'm going to spend the summer at my uncle and aunt's house.
5. (masculine or mixed gender) (used to refer to several relatives)
A word or phrase used to refer to a group including masculine words or both masculine and feminine words (e.g., bienvenidos).
a. aunts and uncles (plural) (mixed gender)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Todos los tíos de Ramona fueron a su fiesta de cumpleaños.All of Ramona's aunts and uncles went to her birthday party.
b. uncles and aunts (plural) (mixed gender)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Tengo un montón de tíos y primos.I have a ton of uncles and aunts and cousins.
c. uncles (masculine) (plural)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
¿Quiénes son esos tres ahí? - Son mis tíos por parte de madre.Who are those three there? - They're my uncles on my mom's side.
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.
