How to ask "How" and "What...like" in Spanish

Learn how to ask "how" in Spanish

To ask how in Spanish we use the interrogative adverb "cómo."

 

¿Cómo? = How?

Have a look at the following examples. Notice how we always place the interrogative cómo at the beginning of the interrogative direct sentence:

¿Cómo estás?How are you?

¿Cómo puedo ayudarte?How can I help you?

¿Cómo están tus abuelos?How are your grandparents?

¿Cómo convences siempre a tu jefa?How do you always persuade your boss?

 

Cómo...? = What... like?

When we want to ask what something or someone is like, we also use cómo. Here are some examples:

¿Cómo es el novio de Lidia?What's Lidia's boyfriend like?

¿Cómo es tu curso? ¿Es interesante?What's your course like? Is it interesting?

Be careful not to use a literal translation to what...like?¿Qué... como?

This is wrong!

¿Qué es Carlos como?
¿Qué es tu curso como?

Also, remember that if you want to ask someone what their name is you also use "cómo"

¿Cómo te llamas?

What's your name? (Lit: How are you called?)

Remember: the interrogative cómo has a written accent on the first o and that syllable is stressed when making a question. 

See also:

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Examples and resources

¿Cómo estás?How are you?
¿Cómo puedo ayudarte?How can I help you?
¿Cómo están tus abuelos?How are your grandparents?
¿Cómo es el novio de Lidia?What's Lidia's boyfriend like?
¿Cómo es tu curso? ¿Es interesante?What's your course like? Is it interesting?
¿Cómo convences siempre a tu jefa?How do you always persuade your boss?
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