What is the difference between saying como estas and que tal in spanish?

Answer 1

Both are greetings equivalent to "how are you" or "how's it going" in English, but qué tal shows familiarity-probably not something you should use when meeting someone for the first time. In such a case, "cómo estás" is the better choice.

Answer 2

"Como estas" is a more traditional way to ask "How are you?" in Spanish, while "Que tal" is a more informal or casual way to ask "How's it going?" or "What's up?" depending on the context. Overall, both phrases are used to inquire about someone's well-being.

Answer 3

There is no functional difference; both are informal ways to ask about someone else's condition. Technically, "¿Qué tal?" means "What's up?" and "¿Cómo estás?" means "How are you?"

Answer 4

It really means the same thing.