Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The greeting hola, compañeros is considered informal or neutral. In more formal settings, you might use Buenos días, compañeros to say "Good morning, classmates" or Buenas tardes, compañeros to say "Good afternoon, classmates" (which is also used in the evening). For an even more formal expression, you can say Es un placer saludarles, compañeros, which means "It is a pleasure to greet you, classmates". Conversely, if you want to be very casual, you can use the colloquialism ¡Qué pasa, compañeros!, meaning "What's up, classmates!"
How does it change in a sentence?
If the group consists entirely of women, you must use the feminine form compañeras in the phrase hola, compañeras. To be explicitly inclusive of both genders in a classroom setting, you can also use both forms together: hola, compañeros y compañeras.
Did you know?
- The term compañeros shares a root with the English word 'companion', both deriving from the Latin words for 'with' and 'bread'.
- The ancestor of hola is related to the Old High German word used to hail ferrymen to come and fetch passengers.
- While you use compañeros for classmates, it is also the standard term used to address 'comrades' in political or revolutionary movements.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, compañeros. Espero que todos hayan tenido una excelente semana y estén listos para comenzar nuestras lecciones hoy.Good morning, classmates. I hope everyone had an excellent week and is ready to start our lessons today.
- ¡Hola, chicos y chicas! ¿Listos para pasar un buen rato juntos en clase hoy?Hi, guys and girls! Ready to have a good time together in class today?
- Hola, compañeros, ¿cómo están?Hello classmates, how are you?
- Hola, compañeros, hoy tenemos un examen.Hello classmates, today we have an exam.
- ¡Hola, compañeros! Es un gusto verlos.Hello classmates! It is a pleasure to see you.
Example conversation
Alejandro enters the classroom and greets the group.
- AlejandroHola, compañeros, ¿cómo están todos?Hello classmates, how is everyone?
- LucíaHola, Alejandro. Estamos muy bien.Hello, Alejandro. We are doing very well.
- Alejandro¿Ya empezaron la lección?Did you already start the lesson?
- LucíaNo, el profesor todavía no llega.No, the teacher has not arrived yet.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
