| Asking | Say |
|---|---|
| A man, politely | आप कैसे हैं? aap kaise hain? |
| A woman, politely | आप कैसी हैं? aap kaisi hain? |
| A friend | तुम कैसे हो? tum kaise ho? |
| Anyone, casually | क्या हाल है? kya haal hai? |
Notice kaise becomes kaisi for a woman. Hindi adjectives agree with the person, and this is where beginners meet that rule first. Full guide here.
मैं ठीक हूँ (main theek hoon) — I'm fine. This one does not change with gender, because theek is invariable. A small mercy.
Then return it: और आप? (aur aap?) — and you? Leaving that out sounds abrupt in Hindi in a way it does not in English.
Do not use tum with someone older or a stranger. It is fine among friends and distinctly rude to an elder. Aap, tum or tu shows where the line sits.
Reading an answer is one thing; being corrected while you say it is another. EkGuru tutors teach one to one from $6 a lesson, and most offer a trial.