hola
/ˈola/
The English phrase 'hi' can be translated into Spanish as hola.
hola means 'hello' and can be used in both formal and informal settings. For more specific time-based greetings, you can use Buenos días for 'good morning' or 'good day' (used from early morning until around noon), Buenas tardes for 'good afternoon' (used from noon until the evening) or Buenas noches for 'good night' (used when greeting someone in the late evening or night).
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When saying hola, do not pronounce the 'h' as a breathy sound like in English. The 'h' should be completely silent.
Did you know?
- The roots of hola may be linked to Old High German words used to hail a ferryman to fetch a passenger.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or a handshake. In Spain, it is common for women to greet each other, or men and women, with a kiss on both cheeks when saying 'hi'.
- In some regions, such as parts of Mexico or Central America, people might use ¡Buenas! as a shortened, ultra-informal version of 'hi'. It is a versatile way to say 'hello' at any time of day without specifying 'morning' or 'afternoon'.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estás?Hi! How are you?Tatoeba #535238 by Shishir, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Hola chicos, soy Mike.Hi guys, I'm Mike.Tatoeba #1020897 by Shishir, translation #1020895 by CP
- ¡Hola! Soy nuevo aquí.Hi! I'm new here.Tatoeba #1666523 by marcelostockle, translation #1654229 by Spamster
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María sees Daniel in the street.
- María¡Hola, Daniel!Hi, Daniel!
- DanielHola, María. ¿Cómo estás?Hi, María. How are you?
- MaríaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
- DanielMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
