What Does "¿Cómo Está Usted?" Mean?

Quick Answer

¿Cómo está usted?= How are you? (formal)

The use of usted is optional. You can also just say ¿Cómo está?(How are you?)

Check out some examples below:

examples
Hola, señor. ¿Cómo está usted? Hello, sir. How are you?
¿Cómo está, señora? - Bien, joven. ¿Y tú? How are you, ma'am? - Good, young man. And you?

Keep in mind that ¿Cómo está usted?is formal. If you're talking to someone the same age as you or younger, you should use ¿Cómo estás?.

Check out some examples below:

examples
Hola, amigo. ¿Cómo estás? Hello, buddy. How are you?
Hola, hermanito, ¿cómo te va? - Bien. ¿Cómo estás? Hey little brother. How's it going? - Going well. How are you?

Check out our article on the different ways to say you in Spanish for more information.

Learn more about phrases in Spanish with these articles:

• Fundamental Spanish Phrases to Learn Right Away

• Spanish Exclamatory Words and Expressions

• Spanish Idioms

• How to Say "I Don't Understand" in Spanish

• How to Say “Good Morning” in Spanish

• "Good Night" in Spanish

• How to Say "I Speak a Little Spanish"

• Words of Encouragement in Spanish

• Common Mistakes in Spanish