Hola
everyday
In Peruvian Spanish "hi" is Hola. The short Buenas is common in shops, and between friends you may hear ¿Qué tal, causa? where causa means buddy. It is also called ¿Qué tal?
Meaning: casual greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Hola | everyday |
| Buenas | casual |
| ¿Qué tal? | casual |
| causa | friend slang, Peru |
Use Hola with anyone. Buenas is a friendly clipped form of buenos días or buenas tardes.
Which one should you use?
Causa and pata are Peruvian slang words for a close friend. Use them only with people you know well.
Did you know?
- Causa is also the name of a famous Peruvian dish, the causa limeña of layered potato.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿qué tal?Hi, how is it going?
- Buenas, ¿tiene pan?Hi, do you have bread?
- ¡Hola, causa!Hi, buddy!
Example conversation
Jorge meets his friend Piero at a bus stop in Lima.
- Jorge¡Hola, causa! ¿Qué tal?Hi, buddy! How is it going?
- PieroTodo bien, Jorge. ¿Y tú?All good, Jorge. And you?
- JorgeTranquilo, aquí esperando el bus.Fine, here waiting for the bus.
