hey
/ˈei/
In Spanish, the English phrase "hey" can be expressed as hey. If unsure, use hey. Wiktionary also lists ey and eh.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hey | /ˈei/ /ˈxei/ (English, imitating) |
| ey | /ˈei/ |
| eh | /ˈe/ |
| hola | /ˈola/ |
The various forms are used as informal greetings. While hey and ey are highly informal, eh is often used as an interjection to grab someone's attention or to express surprise, rather than just as a greeting.
Which one should you use?
While hey and ey are highly informal and used to grab attention, hola is the standard, neutral way to say hello.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈei/
When do people say it?
If you want to say "What's up!" or "How's it going?" colloquially, you can use ¡Qué tal! Other informal ways to say "Hey!" include ¡Ey! and ¡Oye!
Did you know?
- The standard greeting hola actually shares a common ancestor with the command 'stop!' or 'hey, stay!' found in French and several Germanic languages.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting like hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or two, depending on the region.
- In certain Spanish dialects, the interjection eh is used at the end of sentences to turn a statement into a question, similar to the English 'right?' or 'isn't it?'
Examples in context
- ¡Eh!, no eres Tom.Hey, you're not Tom.This example shows how to use eh to identify someone.Tatoeba #4181329 by Leono, translation #3364626 by CK
- ¡Eh, yo te conozco!Hey. I know you.This example shows how to use eh to express recognition.Tatoeba #2351532 by Shishir, translation #1898375 by CK
- Hey, espera por mí.Hey, wait for me.This example shows how to use hey to get someone to wait.Tatoeba #6003346 by albrusgher, translation #3444580 by CK
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?Hi! How are you?
- ¡Qué tal! ¿Qué has estado haciendo?What's up! What have you been up to?
- ¡Oye! ¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?Hey! Are you coming to the party tonight?
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía sees Daniel walking down the street.
- Lucía¡Hey, Daniel!Hey, Daniel!
- Daniel¡Hola, Lucía!Hi, Lucía!
- LucíaHey, ¿cómo estás?Hey, how are you?
- DanielMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
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.
