Buenas
casual
Besides Hola, you can greet people with Buenas, ¿Qué tal? or the time based Buenos días. ¿Qué onda? is a casual Mexican option.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Buenas | casual |
| ¿Qué tal? | neutral |
| Buenos días | formal |
| ¿Qué onda? | casual, Mexico |
Buenas is a short form of Buenos días and Buenas tardes and fits shops and small towns. ¿Qué tal? asks "how is it going" and is also a greeting by itself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Buenos días, Buenas tardes and Buenas noches suit formal moments. ¿Qué onda? is for friends only.
Did you know?
- Saying just Buenas when you enter a shop is normal in Spain and many parts of Latin America.
Examples in context
- Buenas, ¿qué tal todo?Hello, how is everything?
- Buenos días, señora.Good morning, madam.
- ¿Qué onda, Luis?What's up, Luis?
Example conversation
Elena walks into a small bakery and greets the baker, Don Pablo.
- ElenaBuenas, Don Pablo.Hello, Don Pablo.
- Don PabloBuenas, Elena. ¿Qué tal?Hello, Elena. How are you?
- ElenaBien. Un pan, por favor.Fine. One loaf, please.
