qué tal
interjectionCEFR A1
What does “qué tal” mean in English?
how's it going
Example sentences
—¿Qué tal? —Muy bien, gracias.
—How's it going? —Very well, thanks.
Hola Pedro, ¿qué tal?
Hi Pedro, how's it going?
¿Qué tal el examen?
How was the exam?
How to use it
¿Qué tal? means 'how's it going?' (informal). Lighter than ¿cómo estás?. Used as a casual conversation opener with friends and peers.
Common mistake
¿Qué tal? can take a topic ('qué tal el examen?' = how was the exam?) — broader than ¿cómo estás? which only asks about the person.