hola señora
/ola seɲoɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hello lady" is translated into Spanish as hola señora.
This phrase is a polite greeting used when addressing a woman.
Which one should you use?
Use hola señora instead of hola dama to sound natural, as dama is often too formal or literary for a standard greeting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is customary to say Señorita to young women, regardless of their marital status.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word señora is a noun that does not change its form when used in this greeting.
Did you know?
- The word hola shares a common ancestor with the Old High German word 'holon', which was used to call out to ferrymen to get their attention.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, your choice of greeting for a woman depends more on social etiquette and perceived age than on her actual marital status.
Examples in context
- Hola, señorita. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, miss. How are you?
- ¡Buenas tardes, señorita! ¿Qué planes tienes para la tarde?Good afternoon, miss! What are your plans for the evening?
- Buenas tardes, señorita. ¿En qué puedo ayudarla?Good afternoon, miss. How can I assist you?
- Buenos días, señora. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?Good morning, ma'am. How can I assist you?
- ¡Buenos días, Doña María!Good morning, Mrs. María!
- Hola, señorita. ¿Cómo puedo ayudarte?Hello, miss. How can I help you?
Example conversation
Mateo greets his neighbor in the hallway.
- LucíaHola señora, buenos días.Hello lady, good morning.
- MateoHola, Mateo. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Mateo. How are you?
- LucíaEstoy muy bien, gracias.I am very well, thank you.
- MateoMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, señora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
