I.how [ingl. brit. haʊ, ingl. am. haʊ] ADV. CONJ. When how is used as a question word meaning in what way? or by what means? (how did you get here?, how will you do it?) it is almost always translated by comment: comment es-tu arrivé ici?; comment le feras-tu?
When how is used as a conjunction meaning the way in which it is often translated by comment: I don't know how they did it = je ne sais pas comment ils l'ont fait; tell me how you make a curry = dis-moi comment on fait un curry.
When how is used as a conjunction meaning that it is almost always translated by que: he told me how he had stolen the money = il m'a dit qu'il avait volé l'argent; it's amazing how they survived = c'est étonnant qu'ils aient survécu.
For more examples and particular usages see below.
1. how (in what way, by what means):
2. how (enquiring about success, health etc):
- how's everything?, how are things?
3. how (in number, quantity etc questions):
4. how (in exclamations):
5. how (in whichever way):
- how coloq.
6. how (why):
7. how (that):
II.how come ADV.
how come coloq.:
III.how so ADV.
IV.how's that ADV.
1. how's that (what do you think?):
2. how's that (pardon?):
- ‘he's called Nicholas’—‘how's that?’