Is regular considered rude when someone asks how you are?

Responding with 'regular' to '¿cómo estás?' is perfectly acceptable and honest in Spanish culture. Unlike English where 'fine' is almost obligatory, Spanish speakers are comfortable expressing that things are neither great nor terrible.

What hand gesture accompanies más o menos?

Spanish speakers often tilt a flat hand side to side (palm down, fingers together) while saying más o menos, similar to the universal 'iffy' gesture. This visual cue reinforces the meaning of uncertainty or mediocrity.

Can I use así así in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Así así is understood but not commonly used in most Spanish-speaking countries — it may sound somewhat childish or overly literal. Más o menos is the safer, universally natural choice for expressing 'so-so' anywhere in the Hispanic world.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

So So in Spanish: Más o Menos

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Más o Menos · phrase · MAHS oh MEH-nohs

Más o menos (literally 'more or less') is the most natural Spanish equivalent of the English expression 'so-so,' indicating something is mediocre, average, or neither good nor bad. It doubles as an approximation phrase ('about' or 'approximately'). The alternative regular also conveys mediocrity when used as a response to '¿cómo estás?'

Three words blended in natural speech: MAHS-oh-MEH-nohs. The phrase flows quickly and is often accompanied by a hand-wobbling gesture.

—¿Cómo te fue en el examen? —Más o menos.

—How did the exam go? —So-so.

so so in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for so so, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
más o menos	so so	MAHS oh MEH-nohs	Default, widely understood
regular	so so		common in Latin America for mediocre
así así	so so		direct equivalent of so-so, less common

How Native Speakers Use Más o Menos

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

health check-in

—¿Cómo te sientes hoy? —Regular, me duele un poco la cabeza.

—How are you feeling today? —So-so, I have a bit of a headache.

Regular is a single-word alternative meaning so-so.

food review

La comida del restaurante estuvo más o menos, nada extraordinario.

The restaurant food was so-so, nothing extraordinary.

Más o menos expresses lukewarm opinions.

skill level

—¿Hablas francés? —Más o menos, puedo entender lo básico.

—Do you speak French? —So-so, I can understand the basics.

Más o menos also works for approximate abilities.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Más o Menos

literal so-so translation

Incorrect: Estoy así que así hoy.

Correct: Estoy más o menos hoy.

While así así exists in some regions, it is far less common than más o menos and can sound awkward — más o menos is the universally understood expression.

confusing más o menos with approximately

Incorrect: Son más o menos las tres. — You feel so-so about it being three?

Correct: Son más o menos las tres. — It's approximately three o'clock.

Más o menos has a dual function — when modifying a quantity or time, it means 'approximately,' not 'so-so.' Context determines which meaning applies.

Lock in so so Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Más o Menos used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using más o menos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear —¿Cómo te fue en el examen? —Más o menos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About so so in Spanish

Is regular considered rude when someone asks how you are?: Responding with 'regular' to '¿cómo estás?' is perfectly acceptable and honest in Spanish culture. Unlike English where 'fine' is almost obligatory, Spanish speakers are comfortable expressing that things are neither great nor terrible.
What hand gesture accompanies más o menos?: Spanish speakers often tilt a flat hand side to side (palm down, fingers together) while saying más o menos, similar to the universal 'iffy' gesture. This visual cue reinforces the meaning of uncertainty or mediocrity.
Can I use así así in all Spanish-speaking countries?: Así así is understood but not commonly used in most Spanish-speaking countries — it may sound somewhat childish or overly literal. Más o menos is the safer, universally natural choice for expressing 'so-so' anywhere in the Hispanic world.