hola
/ˈola/
The English phrase "hi" is translated into Spanish as hola.
hola is the simplest and most common way to say "hi" in Spanish. It is suitable for most informal situations and can also be used in neutral settings.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While hola is a versatile greeting, it is less formal than time-specific greetings. For more formal contexts, you might use Buenos días (Good morning) until around midday, Buenas tardes (Good afternoon) from midday until the evening or Buenas noches (Good evening/night) once it is dark or in the late evening.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Latin America, such as Colombia, you may hear the informal greeting ¿Qué hubo? to mean "What's up?"
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to spell the word as ola, as this refers to a wave in the ocean.
When do people say it?
Common informal follow-up greetings include ¿Qué tal? (What's up?) or ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) when speaking with friends or acquaintances.
Did you know?
- The greeting hola shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Old High German word holōn, which meant to fetch or hail a ferryman.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or a handshake depending on the gender and relationship of the speakers.
- While hola is the standard greeting, some people use the phrase ¿Qué onda? in Mexico, which literally translates to 'What wave?'
Examples in context
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estás?Hi! How are you?This example shows how to use hola when asking how someone is.Tatoeba #535238 by Shishir, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Hola chicos, soy Mike.Hi guys, I'm Mike.This example demonstrates using hola to introduce yourself to a group.Tatoeba #1020897 by Shishir, translation #1020895 by CP
- ¡Hola! Soy nuevo aquí.Hi! I'm new here.This example illustrates using hola to state that you are new to a place.Tatoeba #1666523 by marcelostockle, translation #1654229 by Spamster
- Buenos días, señor García. ¿Cómo está usted hoy?Good morning, Mr. García. How are you today?
- Hola, Juan. ¿Qué tal estás?Hello, Juan. How are you?
- ¡Hola a todos! ¿Cómo están hoy?Hi everyone! How are you all today?
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía meet at a coffee shop.
- Alejandro¡Hola, Sofía! ¿Cómo estás?Hi, Sofía! How are you?
- SofíaHola, Alejandro. Estoy muy bien, gracias.Hi, Alejandro. I am very well, thanks.
- Alejandro¿Quieres un café conmigo?Do you want a coffee with me?
- SofíaSí, me encantaría.Yes, I would love to.
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.
