Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hey | /ˈei/ /ˈxei/ (English, imitating) |
| ey | /ˈei/ |
| eh | /ˈe/ |
| hola | /ˈola/ |
In Spanish, these terms serve different purposes. While hola is the standard way to say hello, eh is frequently used as an interjection to get someone's attention or to express surprise or disagreement. The forms hey and ey are also used to grab someone's attention or as sudden exclamations.
Which one should you use?
The distinction lies in intent: hola is the standard greeting used to say hello, whereas hey and eh are primarily used to grab someone's attention or as a sudden exclamation. Unlike a standard greeting, eh is often used specifically as an interjection for surprise or disagreement.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The spelling hey is an anglicism and is used in informal, text-based communication among younger generations. Hola is a common and versatile way to say hello in Spanish, and ¡Qué tal! is an informal way to ask someone how they are doing.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈei/
Did you know?
- The standard greeting hola may have originated from the French expression holà, which was used as a command to ‘stop’ rather than as a friendly hello.
- In Spanish eh is often used as a tag question at the end of a sentence to seek confirmation.
- If you use eh as a question, you are not just saying 'hey', but you are often expressing disbelief or asking for confirmation of a fact.
Examples in context
- ¡Eh!, no eres Tom.Hey, you're not Tom.This sentence uses eh to get someone's attention.Tatoeba #4181329 by Leono, translation #3364626 by CK
- ¡Eh, yo te conozco!Hey. I know you.This sentence uses eh to express recognition or attention.Tatoeba #2351532 by Shishir, translation #1898375 by CK
- Hey, espera por mí.Hey, wait for me.This sentence uses hey as an exclamation to get someone's attention.Tatoeba #6003346 by albrusgher, translation #3444580 by CK
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?Hey! What's up?
- ¡Qué tal, amigo? ¿Cómo has estado?What's up, friend? How have you been?
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María meet unexpectedly on the street.
- Javier¡Hey, María! ¿Cómo estás?Hey, María! How are you?
- María¡Hola, Javier! Qué sorpresa.Hi, Javier! What a surprise.
- JavierTengo mucho tiempo sin verte.I haven't seen you in a long time.
- MaríaEs verdad, hace mucho tiempo.That's true, it has been a long time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hey” translations and entries hey, ey, eh, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ey, hey, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
