Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Bom dia! Como está?

In Portuguese, words ending in 'a' are usually feminine, but dia (day) is an exception. It is a masculine word, so it must be paired with the masculine word for 'good', which is bom.

There is no word for 'you' in Como está? How do we know who is being addressed?

In Portuguese, the subject pronoun is often left out because the verb tells us who is doing the action. The verb form está is used for 'he' and 'she', but also for the formal 'you' (você). By asking Como está?, you are politely asking 'How are you?' without needing to actually say the word 'you'.

Why do we use está instead of é here?

Portuguese has two different verbs for 'to be': ser and estar. We use estar (which gives us está) for temporary states like health, location, and moods. Since you are asking how someone is feeling right now, you use estar.

If Como está? is formal, how would I say this to a friend?

To ask a friend or family member 'How are you?', you use the informal 'you' (tu). The verb ending changes to match this, so you would ask Como estás?.