Hola
standard, Panama
In Panama "hello" is Hola. Buenas is the casual short form, and friends say ¿Qué xopá? for "what's up".
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Hola | standard, Panama |
| Buenas | casual |
| ¿Qué xopá? | slang, Panama |
Use Hola with everyone, and Buenas when you walk into a shop. ¿Qué xopá? is informal slang for people you know well.
Which one should you use?
¿Qué xopá? is a recognizable Panamanian expression, so it signals that the speaker is from Panama.
How do you pronounce it?
The h of hola is silent. The word is written xopá but the first sound is like "s".
Did you know?
- ¿Qué xopá? is one of the best-known Panamanian greetings among young people.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?Hello, how are you?
- Buenas, ¿tiene pan?Hello, do you have bread?
- ¿Qué xopá, mi hermano?What's up, my brother?
Example conversation
Friends Javier and Marisol meet outside a café in Panama City.
- Javier¿Qué xopá, Marisol?What's up, Marisol?
- MarisolTodo bien, ¿y tú?All good, and you?
- JavierBien, vamos a tomar un café.Fine, let us have a coffee.
