hola
/ˈola/
The English phrase "hi" is translated into Spanish as hola.
hola is a common and simple way to say hi in Spanish.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While hola is the standard way to say "hi", it is more versatile than the English "hi" and can be used in both casual and semi-formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly pronounce the 'h' in hola as a hard 'h' sound, but it should be silent.
Did you know?
- The word hola likely originated from the French word holà, which was used as a command to tell someone to stop.
- Because the 'h' is silent, hola sounds exactly like the Spanish word ola, which means 'wave' in the ocean.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying hola is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or a handshake, depending on the gender and social context.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estás?Hi! How are you?This sentence shows how to use hola in a greeting.Tatoeba #535238 by Shishir, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Hola chicos, soy Mike.Hi guys, I'm Mike.This sentence uses 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 sentence uses hola when arriving in a new place.Tatoeba #1666523 by marcelostockle, translation #1654229 by Spamster
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?Hi, how are you?
- ¡Buenas! ¿Todo bien?Hi! Everything okay?
- Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?Good morning, how are you?
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena meets Mateo at a cafe.
- Elena¡Hola, Mateo!Hi, Mateo!
- MateoHola, Elena. ¿Cómo estás?Hi, Elena. How are you?
- ElenaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
- MateoMe 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.
