hola
/ˈola/
Hello in Spanish is hola. Wiktionary also lists holi and holis.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hola | /ˈola/ | |
| holi | /ˈoli/ | familiar |
| holis | /ˈolis/ |
The primary way to say hello is hola. In certain contexts, you might also encounter highly informal variations like holi or holis.
Which one should you use?
While hola is the standard greeting, holi and holis are much more playful and informal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
holi is a cute or diminutive version used among close friends or in casual texting, while holis is a slangy, highly informal variation often used in social media or very casual settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
Did you know?
- Some linguists have suggested a possible link between hola and the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God!' or 'really?'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting like hola is often accompanied by a single or double kiss on the cheek, depending on the country.
- The playful variation holis follows a common Spanish linguistic pattern where adding an 's' to the end of a word makes it sound 'cute' or diminutive.
Examples in context
- Dile hola a Jimmy.Say hello to Jimmy.This example shows how to use hola when telling someone to greet another person.Tatoeba #1240331 by Shishir, translation #53376 by CP
- Tom nunca dice hola.Tom never says hello.This example illustrates the use of hola in a negative sentence about someone's habits.Tatoeba #5939755 by arh, translation #5939656 by CK
- Di hola a tus amigos.Say hello to your friends.This example demonstrates how to use hola when instructing someone to greet their friends.Tatoeba #741281 by Shishir, translation #70346 by CK
- Saludos, mi estimado amigoGreetings, my esteemed friend.
- ¿Qué tal, mi compadre?What's up, my buddy?
- ¡Ey, qué onda!Hey, what's up?
- ¡Buenos días, mi gente!Good morning, my people
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro meet in a park.
- Sofía¡Hola, Alejandro!Hello, Alejandro!
- Alejandro¡Hola, Sofía! ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Sofía! How are you?
- SofíaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
- AlejandroMe alegra mucho.I am very happy to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries hola, holi, holis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, holis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
