How to say “I'm fine” in Spanish

Estoy bien

Pronunciation: ehs-TOY BYEHN · Syllables: es-TOY BIEN

"I'm fine" in Spanish is "Estoy bien." In everyday conversation, people usually shorten it to "Bien, gracias" or "Bien, ¿y tú?" when someone asks how they are. You can also use "Estoy bien" to reassure someone, for example after a small accident: "Estoy bien, no te preocupes."

How to pronounce “Estoy bien”

Say "bien" as one quick syllable, like "byen," not "bee-en."
Make the "t" in "estoy" soft by touching your tongue to the back of your upper teeth, with no puff of air.
The "oy" in "estoy" rhymes with English "boy," and the "b" in "bien" is soft, with your lips barely touching.

What it literally means

"Estoy" comes from the verb "estar" (to be, for temporary states and conditions), and "bien" means "well," so the phrase literally means "I am well." "Estar" comes from Latin "stare" (to stand), which is why Spanish uses it for how you are at a given moment.

How to say “I'm fine” in Spanish: Estoy bien — casual to formal, by country, replies and common mistakes — Cheat sheet — tap to enlarge

Other ways to say it, from casual to formal

Bien, ¿y tú?Fine, and you? · Casual chat with friends or peersCasual
Todo bien.All good. · Relaxed, everyday conversationCasual
No me quejo.Can't complain. · Light, friendly small talkCasual
Ahí vamos.Getting by / Hanging in there. · When things are just okayCasual
Bien, gracias.Fine, thanks. · Standard reply to "How are you?"Neutral
Estoy bien, no te preocupes.I'm fine, don't worry. · Reassuring someone who is concernedNeutral
Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?Very well, thank you. And you? · With a boss, an older person or a strangerPolite
Me encuentro bien.I feel well / I'm doing well. · Formal settings or at the doctor'sFormal

By country

Bien, ¿y vos?Argentina & Uruguay · "Vos" replaces "tú," so the return question changes too.
Bien, aquí nomás.Mexico · A modest, friendly way to say "fine, just here, nothing special."
Bien, po.Chile · "Po" is a very common Chilean filler word that adds emphasis.
Fino.Venezuela · A casual way to say "great" or "all good."
Voy tirando.Spain · A common way to say "I'm getting by" when things are just okay.

In text messages

bn = fine (short for "bien")todo bn = all goodbien y tu? = fine, you? (accents and opening marks often dropped)

Example sentences

—¿Cómo estás? —Estoy bien, gracias."How are you?" "I'm fine, thanks."
Bien, ¿y tú? ¿Qué tal el trabajo?Fine, and you? How's work?
No te preocupes, estoy bien.Don't worry, I'm fine.
Estoy bien, solo un poco cansado.I'm fine, just a little tired.
Me caí, pero estoy bien.I fell, but I'm fine.
Ya estoy bien, el doctor dice que puedo volver a trabajar mañana.I'm fine now. The doctor says I can go back to work tomorrow.

Mini dialogue: Running into a neighbor

¡Hola, Marta! ¿Cómo estás?

Hi, Marta! How are you?

Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?

I'm fine, thanks. And you?

Bien también. Oye, ¿y tu hijo? Supe que estaba enfermo.

Fine too. Hey, how's your son? I heard he was sick.

Ya está bien, gracias por preguntar.

He's fine now, thanks for asking.

¡Qué bueno! Me alegro mucho.

That's great! I'm really glad.

How to reply

¡Qué bueno!That's great!
Me alegro.I'm glad.
Yo también, gracias.Me too, thanks.
¿Seguro?Are you sure?

Grammar: Use "estar" (not "ser") with "bien"

Spanish has two verbs for "to be." How you feel or how you are doing right now is a state, so you always use "estar": estoy, estás, está. Also use "bien" (well), not "bueno" (good), after "estar" when you're talking about how you are.

Mis padres están bien.My parents are fine.
¿Estás bien?Are you okay?

Common mistakes

✗ ~~Soy bien.~~✓ Estoy bien.

How you're doing is a temporary state, so it takes "estar," not "ser."

✗ ~~Estoy bueno.~~✓ Estoy bien.

"Estoy bueno" usually means "I'm attractive," not "I'm fine."

✗ ~~Bien, ¿y tú? (to your new boss)~~✓ Bien, ¿y usted?

In formal situations, ask back with "usted" instead of "tú."

Culture tip

Just like "I'm fine" in English, "Bien, gracias" is often an automatic reply, even when someone's day isn't perfect. It's polite, and often expected, to return the question ("¿y tú?" or "¿y usted?"). In many Latin American countries, people like to chat a little longer during greetings, so be ready to add a detail or ask about the other person's family.

Questions people ask

What's the difference between "Estoy bien" and just "Bien"?

They mean the same thing. "Bien" or "Bien, gracias" is the most common short reply to "¿Cómo estás?", while the full "Estoy bien" sounds a bit more complete. It's also the version people use to reassure someone ("Estoy bien, tranquilo").

How do I say "I'm fine" formally in Spanish?

Say "Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?" Using "usted" in the return question is what makes it formal. In very formal or medical contexts, you can also say "Me encuentro bien."

Does "Estoy bien" have any accent marks?

No. "Estoy bien" has no written accents, even though the stress falls on "-TOY." But in "¿y tú?" the word "tú" (you) does carry an accent, which separates it from "tu" (your).

How do people say "I'm fine" in Argentina?

The answer is the same ("Bien" or "Estoy bien"), but Argentines ask back with "¿y vos?" instead of "¿y tú?" because they use "vos" for "you." You'll also hear "Todo bien" or "Todo tranqui."