hola
/ˈola/
In Spanish, the phrase "hello to a woman" is translated as hola.
hola is a common and versatile way to say hello in any informal situation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
When do people say it?
In many Latin American countries, it is common to greet women with a kiss on the cheek.
Did you know?
- The word hola likely comes from the French 'holà', which was originally used as a command meaning 'hey! stop!'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting to a woman often involves dos besos, where a person kisses both cheeks, starting with the right.
- Despite the similarity in sound, hola is distinct from ola, which means 'wave' in the ocean.
Examples in context
- Hola, señora.Hello, ma'am.
- Hola, amiga.Hello, friend.
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?Hello! How are you?
Example conversation
Alejandro meets Elena at a cafe.
- Elena¡Hola, Elena!Hello, Elena!
- AlejandroHola, Alejandro. ¿Cómo va todo?Hello, Alejandro. How is everything going?
- ElenaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
- AlejandroMe alegro mucho.I am very happy to hear that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
