Portuguese Phrase
Como você está hoje?
Meaning
Literally, “How are you today?” It asks about the person’s current state—physical, emotional, or general well‑being—on the day of the conversation. The phrase is friendly, neutral, and can be used with acquaintances, coworkers, or strangers.
When to use
Use this greeting in the morning, afternoon, or evening when you meet someone you already know or when you want to show a little extra care beyond a simple “Oi”. It works in both formal and informal settings, though in very formal contexts you might add a title (e.g., “Como o senhor está hoje?”).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comovocêestáhoje?
Como (How)
Interrogative adverb used to ask about manner or condition.
você (you)
Second‑person singular pronoun; neutral and widely used in Brazil.
está (are)
Third‑person singular present of the verb estar, used for temporary states or location.
hoje (today)
Adverb of time indicating the current day.
? (question mark)
Marks the sentence as a question; in spoken Portuguese the intonation rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Como você está hoje?
How are you today?
Estou bem, obrigado. E você?
I’m fine, thank you. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Como está você hoje?
Word order is unnatural in Portuguese; the pronoun normally comes before the verb.
Como tu está hoje?
When using “tu”, the verb must be conjugated as “estás”.
Como você está hoje
Missing the question mark (or rising intonation) makes it read as a statement.
↔Alternatives
Tudo bem hoje?
All good today?
Como tem passado?
How have you been?
Como está se sentindo hoje?
How are you feeling today?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, asking “Como você está?” is a common way to show interest, but it’s usually followed by a brief answer rather than a detailed health report. In the South of Brazil people may add a diminutive (“Como você está, hein?”) to sound more affectionate. In Portugal, the more formal “Como está?” (without “você”) is preferred, especially with strangers or older people.