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How to Say Hi in Spanish

Essential phrases for greeting people in Spanish

Master essential Spanish greetings and learn when to use them in formal and informal contexts for confident conversations.

Learning how to say hi in Spanish opens doors to conversation and connection. There are many different ways to say hi in Spanish, depending on the region and context. This article helps you sound confident and natural—whether you want to learn Spanish, greet people politely, or engage with Spanish speakers. Discover different phrases for greeting people in Spanish, when to use them, and next steps.

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Table of Contents

Common Spanish Greetings

Spanish greetings go beyond hola. Use these easy expressions to greet anyone—friend or colleague.

There are many ways to say hello in Spanish. The following phrases are commonly used greetings, and they can be adapted for casual or formal situations.

Hola (“hi”) works anytime. For more variation, try:

  • Buenos días (good morning), Buenas tardes (good afternoon), Buenas noches (good evening/night). (Buenos días is a greeting made up of two words.)

  • Informal alternatives include ¿Qué tal?, ¿Cómo estás?, ¿Cómo te va?, ¿Qué pasa?, ¿Qué onda?.

Pay attention to pronunciation when using these greetings, as saying them correctly helps you sound more authentic and improves your Spanish communication.

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Formal and Informal Greetings

Understanding when to be formal honors cultural norms and builds trust. Formal pronouns like ‘usted’ (singular) and ‘ustedes’ (plural) are used in formal situations, especially in Spain, to show respect when addressing strangers, elders, or authority figures.

  • Formal context: Use ¿Cómo está usted? after Buenos días, Buenas tardes, or Buenas noches—this is a more formal way to greet someone.

  • Informal context: With friends or in casual settings, try ¿Cómo estás?, ¿Qué tal?, or ¿Cómo andas?. ‘Hola’ is a common informal greeting.

In Spain, the use of formal pronouns like ‘usted’ and ‘ustedes’ and choosing the appropriate greeting can be especially important in professional or unfamiliar settings.

Time-Based Greetings

Mastering time-based greetings in Spanish is one of the most important things you can do to sound natural and polite. The greeting you choose depends on the time of day: use buenos días to say hello in Spanish during the morning, buenas tardes in the afternoon, and buenas noches in the evening or at night. These phrases are essential in any Spanish-speaking country and show respect for local customs. After your initial greeting, you can keep the conversation going with questions like ¿cómo está? (how are you?) or ¿qué hay de nuevo? (what’s new?). Using these greetings in Spanish helps you connect with people and makes your interactions feel warm and genuine, whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or greeting a friend.

Regional Flair and Other Greetings

Spanish is full of regional warmth. Tailor your greeting with a cultural touch.

  • In Mexico: ¿Qué onda?, ¿Qué hubo?, ¿Qué tranza?.

  • Argentina: ¿Qué hacés, che? or ¿Cómo andás?.

  • Colombia: ¿Qué más? or ¿Quiubo?.

  • Chile: ¿Cómo estái? (a casual, friendly way to ask how someone is doing).

A common response to these greetings in many regions is estoy bien.

Watching a video can help you learn the correct pronunciation of these regional greetings

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Combining Greetings

To make your Spanish greetings more engaging, try combining a greeting with a friendly question. For example, you might say hola, ¿cómo estás? (hello, how are you?) or buenos días, ¿qué pasa? (good morning, what’s happening?). This approach shows you care about the other person and want to start a real conversation. In formal situations, you can use buenos días, ¿cómo está usted? to show extra respect. In informal contexts, especially with friends or peers, phrases like hola, ¿qué tal? (hello, how’s it going?) or hola, ¿cómo andas? (hello, how are you doing?) sound friendly and relaxed. Mixing greetings and questions is a great way to make your Spanish sound more natural and inviting.

Special Occasions

Spanish greetings become even more meaningful on special occasions. For birthdays, you can say feliz cumpleaños (happy birthday), and for holidays like Christmas, feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) is the go-to phrase. If you want to be more formal, try le deseo un feliz cumpleaños (I wish you a happy birthday) or le deseo una feliz Navidad (I wish you a Merry Christmas). Using these special occasion greetings in Spanish shows you care and helps you connect with Spanish speakers on a deeper level, whether you’re celebrating with friends, family, or colleagues.

Cultural Awareness

Being aware of cultural differences is key when using Spanish greetings. In many Spanish-speaking countries, it’s common to use formal greetings with usted until you’re invited to switch to the informal tú. Physical greetings, like a hug or a kiss on the cheek, are also part of the culture in some places. Paying attention to these customs helps you avoid misunderstandings and shows respect for the person you’re greeting. Adding polite phrases like gracias (thank you) or por favor (please) can make your interactions even more positive. Remember, understanding the right greeting for each situation is just as important as knowing the words themselves.

Common Mistakes

When learning Spanish greetings, it’s easy to make a few common mistakes. One is using overly formal language in casual settings, like saying usted with friends, or being too informal in a formal context, such as using tú with someone you’ve just met. Another frequent error is mispronouncing words—remember, the “h” in hola is silent, and questions like ¿cómo estás? need the right intonation. Practicing with native speakers or using language learning tools can help you avoid these pitfalls. The most important thing is to match your greeting to the situation and keep practicing until it feels natural. With time, your Spanish greetings will sound confident and authentic.

Ready to Speak Spanish with Confidence?

Enthusiastic to use these greetings in daily life or at work? Let us help you go further. Whether you’re exploring learn Spanish courses or Spanish-speaking country travel tips, we offer personalized lessons, practice sessions, and cultural coaching.

Frequently Ask Questions

“Hola” is universal, informal, and easy to use in any situation.

Use Buenos días before noon, Buenas tardes from noon until sunset, and Buenas noches after dark.

Combine a time-based greeting with ¿Cómo está usted? for respectful interactions.

Try ¿Qué tal?, ¿Cómo estás?, ¿Qué onda?, ¿Qué pasa?,  or ¿Cómo te va?.

Yes! Examples include Mexico's ¿Qué onda?, Argentina’s ¿Qué hacés, che?, and Colombia's ¿Qué más?.

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