Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hola | /ˈola/ | |
| holi | /ˈoli/ | familiar |
| holis | /ˈolis/ |
The primary way to say "hi" or "hello" is hola. You can also use more specific time-based greetings such as Buenos días for "Good morning" (used from early morning until noon), Buenas tardes for "Good afternoon" (used from noon until evening) and Buenas noches for "Good evening" or "Good night".
Which one should you use?
While hola is the standard greeting, holi and holis are much more diminutive and playful forms.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
holi is a highly informal or "cute" way to say hello, often used in texting or among close friends. holis is a slangy, playful variation used in very casual social settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear the informal greeting ¿Qué onda?, which translates to "What's happening?" In Argentina, the colloquial expression ¡Che! is used among friends similarly to "Hey!"
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
When do people say it?
Common follow-up greetings include the informal "¿Qué tal?" (What's up? Or How's it going?) and the standard "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?).
Did you know?
- The word hola may have originated as a command to 'stop' or 'hey!' rather than a friendly greeting. It is thought to be related to the French holà, which was used to hail or stop someone.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting like hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on one cheek between women or between a man and a woman.
- Depending on the region, a greeting like hola might be followed by a double kiss on both cheeks, alternating sides.
Examples in context
- Dile hola a Jimmy.Say hello to Jimmy.This sentence is useful for practicing how to direct a greeting toward someone else using hola.Tatoeba #1240331 by Shishir, translation #53376 by CP
- Tom nunca dice hola.Tom never says hello.This sentence shows how to use hola in a negative context.Tatoeba #5939755 by arh, translation #5939656 by CK
- Di hola a tus amigos.Say hello to your friends.This sentence demonstrates how to use hola when addressing a group of friends.Tatoeba #741281 by Shishir, translation #70346 by CK
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena meet at a coffee shop.
- Mateo¡Hola, Elena!Hello, Elena!
- ElenaHola, Mateo. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Mateo. How are you?
- MateoMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
- ElenaQué bueno.That's good.
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.
