BasicsDecember 24, 2025
How to Say Hello in Spanish: Science-Based Greetings That Stick
Whether you use "¿cómo estás?" (informal), "¿cómo está?" (formal), or "¿cómo están?" (plural) depends on the relationship and how many people you're greeting.
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TL;DR
- "Hola" is the standard greeting in Spanish for pretty much any region or situation. If you want to sound more local or polite, use a time-specific greeting like "buenos días" (morning), "buenas tardes" (afternoon), or "buenas noches" (evening).
- Phone greetings are all over the place: "aló" in parts of Latin America, "bueno" in Mexico, "diga" or "dígame" in Spain, and "sí" works everywhere.
- Want to sound casual? Try "¿qué pasa?" or "¿qué onda?" - but only with people you know well.
- Whether you use "¿cómo estás?" (informal), "¿cómo está?" (formal), or "¿cómo están?" (plural) depends on the relationship and how many people you're greeting.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use time-specific greetings in professional or formal settings | "Buenos días, señora García" |
| Use "hola" for any situation | "¡Hola, Juan!" |
| Greeting Context | Example Phrase |
|---|---|
| In person | "Hola" / "Buenos días" |
| On the phone | "¿Bueno?" / "¿Dígame?" |
| In writing | "Saludos" / "Querido/a" |
Essential Spanish Greetings and Their Usage
Hola and Its Pronunciation
Hola is the go-to Spanish greeting - think "hello" in English.
| Spanish | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | OH-lah | Any time, anyone |
| ¡Hola! | OH-lah | With more energy |
Pronunciation tips:
- The "h" is silent.
- Stress the first syllable: HO-la.
- "O" like in "hope," "a" like in "father."
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Combine "hola" with time-based greetings for a friendlier tone | "Hola, buenos días" |
| Use "hola" alone for simplicity | "Hola" |
Time-Based Greetings: Buenos Días, Buenas Tardes, Buenas Noches
| Greeting | Time Range | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos días | Sunrise–noon | Good days |
| Buenas tardes | Noon–sunset | Good afternoons |
| Buenas noches | Sunset onward | Good nights |
| Region | Time Boundaries for "Tardes" |
|---|---|
| Spain | Until 8–9 PM |
| Latin America | Until sunset |
| Caribbean | Flexible |
| Shortened/Alternate Forms | Usage |
|---|---|
| Buen día | Some Latin American countries |
| Buenas | Informal, any time |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| "Buenas noches" can mean hello or goodbye at night | "Buenas noches" on arrival or leaving |
Common Conversation Starters: ¿Qué Tal?, ¿Qué Pasa?, ¿Qué Onda?
| Phrase | Literal Meaning | Formality | Where Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué tal? | How's it? | Neutral | Everywhere |
| ¿Qué pasa? | What's up? | Informal | Universal |
| ¿Qué onda? | What wave? | Very informal | Mexico, parts of Latin America |
| Typical Response | Translation |
|---|---|
| Bien, ¿y tú? | Good, and you? |
| Todo bien | All good |
| Nada, ¿y tú? | Nothing, you? |
| Aquí, tranquilo | Just chilling |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use "¿Qué tal?" in both formal and informal situations | "¿Qué tal, señor?" |
| Use "¿Qué onda?" only with friends in Mexico or nearby | "¿Qué onda, Luis?" |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Always use both opening and closing question marks in Spanish questions | "¿Qué tal?" |
Formal and Informal Greetings: Tú vs. Usted
| Pronoun | When to Use | Example | Verb Ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | Friends, family, peers | ¿Cómo estás? | -s |
| Usted | Elders, strangers, authority | ¿Cómo está? | -a/-e |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use "usted" in business, with elders, or authority | "¿Cómo está usted, doctor?" |
| Use "tú" after being invited ("tutéame") or with peers | "¿Cómo estás, Ana?" |
| Plural Forms | Where Used | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ustedes | Latin America | ¿Cómo están? |
| Vosotros | Spain only | ¿Cómo estáis? |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Default to "usted" if unsure; switch to "tú" if invited | "¿Cómo está usted?" then "¿Cómo estás?" after permission |
Beyond Basics: Regional, Contextual, and Phone Greetings
Greetings for Different Regions and Social Contexts
| Region | Common Greeting | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | ¿Qué onda? | Informal, friends |
| Argentina | ¿Qué hacés? | Casual |
| Cuba | ¿Qué bola? | Very informal |
| Spain | ¿Qué tal? | Any context |
| Caribbean | ¿Qué hay de nuevo? | Friends, acquaintances |
| Formal "How are you?" | Informal "How are you?" |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo está usted? / ¿Cómo están? | ¿Cómo estás? / ¿Cómo te va? |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use formal greetings more in Latin America than Spain | "¿Cómo está usted?" in Mexico |
| Use informal greetings among friends or younger people | "¿Cómo te va?" with peers |
| Long-Time Greetings | Usage |
|---|---|
| ¡Hace tiempo que no te veo! | It's been a while! |
| ¿Qué milagro? | Used humorously for rare appearances |
Answering the Phone in Spanish-Speaking Countries
| Country/Region | Phone Greeting | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico, Peru, Chile | ¿Bueno? | Rising tone |
| Spain | ¿Dígame? / ¿Sí? | Formal/informal |
| Argentina, Uruguay | ¿Aló? / ¿Sí? | Standard |
| Colombia, Venezuela | ¿Aló? | Most common |
| Business | ¿En qué puedo ayudarle? | Formal |
| Formal Phone Response | Usage |
|---|---|
| Dígame | Spain, formal |
| ¿Sí? | Universal |
| Oye | Not used as a greeting, just to get attention |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| In business calls, ask how the caller is before discussing business | "¿Cómo está usted? ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?" |
Welcoming, Introducing, and Saying Goodbye
| Welcome Phrase | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Bienvenido | One man |
| Bienvenida | One woman |
| Bienvenidos | Group (male/mixed) |
| Bienvenidas | Group (female) |
| Introduction Phrase | English | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you | Universal |
| Encantado | Delighted (male) | Slightly formal |
| Encantada | Delighted (female) | Slightly formal |
| Me llamo... | My name is... | Any context |
| Goodbye Phrase | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Adiós | Any situation |
| Hasta luego | See you later |
| Hasta pronto | See you soon |
| Chao | Informal |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| "Saludos" works as both a greeting and an email closing | "Saludos, Marta" |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use "señor" (Mr.) with formal greetings | "Señor Gómez, ¿cómo está usted?" |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different greetings used in Spanish for male and female recipients?
| Recipient | Greeting | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One man | Bienvenido | bee-ehn-veh-NEE-doh |
| One woman | Bienvenida | bee-ehn-veh-NEE-dah |
| Multiple men/mixed group | Bienvenidos | bee-ehn-veh-NEE-dohs |
| Multiple women | Bienvenidas | bee-ehn-veh-NEE-dahs |
| Email Opening | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Querido | Male |
| Querida | Female |
| Queridos | Group (male/mixed) |
| Queridas | Group (female) |
| Letter Salutation | Usage |
|---|---|
| Estimado señor | Esteemed sir |
| Estimada señora | Esteemed madam |
| Estimados señores | Esteemed sirs/mixed group |
| Estimadas señoras | Esteemed madams |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Gender is marked by final vowel: -o (masculine), -a (feminine) | "Bienvenido" for a man, "Bienvenida" for a woman |
What is the appropriate way to greet a friend in Spanish?
Informal greetings for friends:
- ¿Qué tal? (How's it going?)
- ¿Qué pasa? (What's up?)
- ¿Qué hubo? (What's happening?)
- ¿Qué onda? (What's up? - Latin America)
Casual combinations:
- Hola, ¿qué tal?
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?
- Buenas, ¿qué pasa?
Usage Rule → Example:Rule: Use "tú" form verbs (-s endings) with friends.
Example: ¿Cómo estás?
Text message shortcuts:
- Hla (hola)
- Q tl? (qué tal)
- Bs (besos/kisses)
How does one form a formal greeting in Spanish?
Business and formal contexts:
| Situation | Greeting | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Morning meeting | Buenos días, ¿cómo está? | Before noon |
| Afternoon client | Buenas tardes, ¿cómo está? | After 1 PM |
| Evening event | Buenas noches, ¿cómo está? | After dark |
Formal phone greetings:
- ¿Dígame? (Tell me?)
- ¿En qué puedo colaborar? (How can I help you?)
- Buenos días, [company name]
Written formal openings:
- A quien corresponda:
- Estimado/a [title] [last name]:
- Muy señor mío:
Usage Rule → Example:Rule: Use "usted" form with third-person verbs for respect.
Example: ¿Cómo está?
Addressing Rule → Example:Rule: Use title plus last name until invited to use first name.
Example: Señor Gómez
Rule: "Tutéame" means you may switch to informal "tú."
Example: "Puede tutearme."
What are the casual or informal salutations commonly used in Spanish?
Regional informal greetings:
| Region | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | ¿Qué onda? | What's up? |
| Spain | ¿Qué pasa, tío? | What's up, dude? |
| Argentina | ¿Qué hacés? | What are you doing? |
| Colombia | ¿Quiubo? | What's up? |
| Chile | ¿Qué onda, microonda? | What wave, microwave? |
Time-neutral casual greetings:
- ¡Hola!
- ¡Buenas!
- ¡Ey!
- ¡Saludos!
Age-appropriate informal phrases:
- Young people use "¿Qué pasa?" with peers or those younger.
Slang variations:
- ¿Qué pasa, huevón? (South America - dude)
- ¿Qué tal, tío? (Spain - informal)
- ¿Cómo andás? (Argentina - informal you)