Hola a todos
/ola a todos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hey y'all" can be translated into Spanish as Hola a todos.
Hola a todos is a standard way to greet a group. Depending on the situation and region, there are several other ways to express this sentiment: * ¡Qué pasa, gente! is an informal way to say "What's happening, people!" * ¡Hola, chicos/as! translates to "Hello, guys" and is often used among friends. * ¿Qué onda, raza? is a colloquial Mexican expression meaning "What's up, guys?" or "What's going on, people?" * ¿Qué hubo? is an informal equivalent to "What's up?" used in some Latin American countries, particularly Colombia. * ¿Qué hacés, gente? is used by Argentinians to mean "What's up, people?" or "What are you up to, folks?"
What does it mean word for word?
Hola a todos is composed of Hola (hello), a (to) and todos (all/everyone).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hola a todos is a standard, informal way to greet a group, much like the casual English "hey y'all".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the gender of the group being addressed. While Hola a todos is used for a group of only men or a mixed-gender group, if the group consists entirely of women, you should use Hola a todas.
Did you know?
- Some linguists have explored a possible link between hola and the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God'.
- In Mexico, the word raza in ¿Qué onda, raza? literally means 'race' or 'lineage', but here it functions as 'folks' or 'crew'.
- If you are in Colombia and want to say 'hey y'all' or 'what's up', you might say ¿Qué hubo?, which is a contraction of the phrase 'What was there?'
Examples in context
- Hola a todos, ¿cómo están?Hey y'all, how are you?
- ¡Hola a todos! Bienvenidos a la fiesta.Hey y'all! Welcome to the party.
- Hola a todos, espero que tengan un buen día.Hey y'all, I hope you have a good day.
Example conversation
María enters a room where Javier and his friends are hanging out.
- MaríaHola a todos, ¿qué hacen?Hey y'all, what are you doing?
- JavierHola María, solo estamos charlando.Hi María, we are just chatting.
- María¿Puedo sentarme con ustedes?Can I sit with you all?
- JavierClaro, siéntate con nosotros.Sure, sit with us.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
