hola
standard, Costa Rica
Hi in Costa Rica is hola, and buenas is the relaxed local favorite. ¿Qué tal? adds a question, like "how is it going?" It is also called qué tal.
Meaning: short informal greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| hola | standard, Costa Rica |
| buenas | casual |
| qué tal | casual |
Friends start with hola and often add the name. In a shop, a bus or a soda, a plain buenas is perfect.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Texting is full of hola followed by ¿cómo estás? Younger Ticos also write ola or holi, which are playful forms.
Did you know?
- Costa Rica uses the pronoun vos in casual talk, so ¿y vos? is a very common follow-up.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿qué tal?Hi, how is it going?
- Buenas, ¿cómo le va?Hi, how are you doing?
- Hola, Pedro.Hi, Pedro.
Example conversation
Natalia says hi to her classmate Pedro in the hallway.
- NataliaHola, Pedro, ¿qué tal?Hi, Pedro, how is it going?
- PedroBien, ¿y vos?Good, and you?
- NataliaTodo bien, gracias.All good, thanks.
