Hola
hello, everyday
In Peru "hello" and "goodbye" are two different words. You say Hola to greet someone and Chau to leave, and Nos vemos, "we will see each other", is a friendly way to say see you. Chau is also written chao.
Meaning: greeting and farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Hola | hello, everyday |
| Chau | goodbye, casual |
| Nos vemos | goodbye, see you |
Shop assistants, neighbors and coworkers often start with a quick Buenas, short for Buenos días or Buenas tardes. At the end of a chat Chau or Nos vemos is enough.
Which one should you use?
Adiós sounds more final than Chau. For a polite goodbye in a shop or office, Hasta luego is a safe option.
When do people say it?
Greetings between a man and a woman or between two women often come with one kiss on the cheek. Men usually shake hands or hug.
Did you know?
- The farewell Chau comes from Italian ciao, which reached Spanish through Italian immigrants in South America.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?Hello, how are you?
- Buenas, ¿me da un pan, por favor?Hello, could I have a bread roll, please?
Example conversation
Rosa greets her coworker Diego at the office in Lima and says goodbye at the end of the day.
- RosaHola, Diego. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Diego. How are you?
- DiegoBien, Rosa, ¿y tú?Fine, Rosa, and you?
- RosaBien también. Ya me voy, chau.Fine too. I am leaving now, bye.
- DiegoChau, nos vemos mañana.Bye, see you tomorrow.
