How to Say Hello in Spanish: Complete Beginner's Guide (Formal & Informal)

How to Say Hello in Spanish: Complete Beginner's Guide

Saying hello is the first step in any conversation. But Spanish has multiple ways to greet people, and the right greeting depends on the situation, time of day, and relationship.

This guide covers all the ways to say hello in Spanish, from casual to formal, with cultural notes so you know when to use each one.

The Most Common Way: Hola

Hola (pronounced "OH-lah") is the most basic and universal way to say hello in Spanish. It works in almost any situation - formal or informal, with friends or strangers.

Examples:

• "Hola, ¿cómo estás?" (Hello, how are you?)
• "Hola, me llamo Carlos." (Hello, my name is Carlos.)
• "Hola, mucho gusto." (Hello, nice to meet you.)

Casual & Friendly: Qué tal

¿Qué tal? (pronounced "kay TAHL") literally means "what's up?" It's more casual than "hola" and is commonly used among friends and in informal settings.

Examples:

• "¿Qué tal, amigo?" (What's up, friend?)
• "¿Qué tal? ¿Cómo te va?" (What's up? How's it going?)
• "¿Qué tal, hermano?" (What's up, brother?)

Note: "¿Qué tal?" can also be used to ask "How are you?" in a casual way. The response is usually "Bien, ¿y tú?" (Good, and you?)

Time-Specific Greetings

Spanish speakers often use time-specific greetings instead of just "hola." These are polite and show cultural awareness.

Buenos días (Good Morning)

Buenos días is used from sunrise until around noon. It's formal and respectful.

Examples:

• "Buenos días, señor." (Good morning, sir.)
• "Buenos días, ¿cómo amaneciste?" (Good morning, how did you wake up?)
• "Buenos días, que tengas un excelente día." (Good morning, have an excellent day.)

Buenas tardes (Good Afternoon)

Buenas tardes is used from noon until sunset (around 6-7 PM). It's formal and appropriate for any situation.

Examples:

• "Buenas tardes, ¿cómo está?" (Good afternoon, how are you?)
• "Buenas tardes, me alegra verte." (Good afternoon, I'm glad to see you.)
• "Buenas tardes, ¿qué tal tu día?" (Good afternoon, how's your day?)

Buenas noches (Good Evening/Night)

Buenas noches is used after sunset until you go to bed. It's formal and respectful.

Examples:

• "Buenas noches, que descanses." (Good night, rest well.)
• "Buenas noches, fue un placer verte." (Good evening, it was a pleasure to see you.)
• "Buenas noches, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?" (Good evening, how was your day?)

Formal vs Informal Greetings

Spanish distinguishes between formal (usted) and informal (tú) greetings. Use formal greetings with strangers, older people, bosses, and in professional settings.

Regional Variations

Spanish-speaking countries have their own variations and slang for greetings. Here are some regional differences:

Spain

• ¿Qué onda? (What's up?) - Very casual, used among young people
• ¿Tío, qué tal? (Dude, what's up?) - Casual, "tío" means "guy" or "dude"
• Hola, ¿qué hay? (Hello, what's new?) - Casual greeting

Mexico

• ¿Qué onda, güey? (What's up, dude?) - Very casual, "güey" is Mexican slang
• ¿Qué pasa? (What's happening?) - Casual greeting
• Hola, ¿qué tal? (Hello, what's up?) - Standard casual greeting

Argentina

• ¿Qué tal, boludo? (What's up, buddy?) - Casual, "boludo" is Argentine slang
• Che, ¿qué tal? (Hey, what's up?) - Very casual, "che" is Argentine for "hey"
• Hola, ¿cómo estás? (Hello, how are you?) - Standard greeting

Colombia

• ¿Qué más? (What's up?) - Casual greeting
• ¿Qué me cuentas? (What's new with you?) - Casual greeting
• Hola, ¿cómo estás? (Hello, how are you?) - Standard greeting

How to Respond to a Greeting

When someone greets you, you should respond. Here are common responses:

• "Bien, gracias, ¿y tú?" (Good, thanks, and you?) - Standard response
• "Muy bien, ¿y vos?" (Very good, and you?) - Argentine variation
• "Excelente, ¿cómo estás tú?" (Excellent, how are you?) - More enthusiastic
• "Más o menos." (So-so.) - When you're not doing great
• "No me puedo quejar." (I can't complain.) - Casual positive response

Complete Greeting Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Formal Meeting

Person A: "Buenos días, ¿cómo está?"

Person B: "Buenos días, muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?"

Person A: "Excelente, mucho gusto."

Person B: "Encantada de conocerle."

Dialogue 2: Casual Meeting

Person A: "¡Hola, tío! ¿Qué tal?"

Person B: "¡Ey! Bien, ¿y tú? ¿Qué hay?"

Person A: "Todo bien, hermano. ¿Cómo te va?"

Person B: "No me puedo quejar, tío."

Dialogue 3: Afternoon Greeting

Person A: "Buenas tardes, ¿cómo estás?"

Person B: "Buenas tardes, bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?"

Person A: "Muy bien. ¿Qué tal tu día?"

Person B: "Excelente, gracias por preguntar."

Cultural Notes

1. Greetings are important. In Spanish-speaking cultures, greetings are a sign of respect and friendliness. Always greet people when you meet them.

2. Physical greetings vary. In some countries, people shake hands. In others, they kiss on the cheek (one or two kisses depending on the region). In informal settings, friends might hug.

3. Time-specific greetings show respect. Using "buenos días," "buenas tardes," or "buenas noches" instead of just "hola" shows that you're culturally aware and respectful.

4. Formal vs informal matters. Using the wrong level of formality can be seen as rude. When in doubt, start formal and let the other person set the tone.

Related Greetings

If you're just starting out, read our Complete Beginner Roadmap first - it gives you the 6-step system to build your foundation.

For more greeting phrases, check out our guides on how to say good morning, how to say goodbye, and essential Spanish words.

The Bottom Line

The most common way to say hello in Spanish is "hola," but Spanish speakers often use time-specific greetings like "buenos días," "buenas tardes," and "buenas noches." Learn the formal and informal variations, and you'll be able to greet anyone appropriately. Remember: greetings are the foundation of every conversation, so master them first.