epa
casual, Venezuela
The most typical Venezuelan way to say "hey" is epa. It works as a greeting and as a way to get someone's attention. Oye is the neutral choice. It is also called Chamo.
Meaning: casual attention getter or greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| epa | casual, Venezuela |
| Oye | neutral |
| Chamo | slang |
Epa can be a friendly hello, as in Epa, ¿qué tal? You can also call out Epa to someone passing by.
Which one should you use?
Oye literally means "listen" and is used to start a sentence or call a person's attention. Chamo can be added: Oye, chamo.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Epa is for friends and people your age. In formal situations choose Buenos días or Disculpe.
Did you know?
- Venezuelans also say épale as a lively greeting, a close relative of epa.
Examples in context
- ¡Epa! ¿Cómo has estado?Hey! How have you been?
- Oye, ¿tienes hora?Hey, do you have the time?
- Epa, chamo, espérame.Hey, dude, wait for me.
Example conversation
Rafael sees his friend Jesús across the street.
- Rafael¡Epa, Jesús!Hey, Jesús!
- Jesús¡Epa! ¿Qué hay de nuevo?Hey! What is new?
- RafaelNada, aquí andamos.Nothing, just around.
