hola
/ˈola/
The English phrase "hi there" can be translated into Spanish as hola.
hola is the most common and versatile way to say hello in Spanish. For a slightly more engaged greeting, you can use ¡Hola, qué tal?, which translates to "Hi, how are you?" or "Hi, what's up?" or use ¿Qué pasa? to mean "What's happening?" or "What's going on?" as a casual way to say hi.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people commonly use ¡Buenas! as a casual greeting regardless of the time of day. In some Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and parts of Central America, you may hear the informal greeting ¿Qué onda?, which is similar to ¿Qué pasa?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
Did you know?
- In Mexico and Central America, the greeting ¿Qué onda? literally asks 'What wave?', referring to the vibe or energy of a situation.
- While we use it to say hello, the word hola may actually originate from a command to stop or a shout to hail a ferryman.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a greeting like hola is often accompanied by a single cheek kiss or 'beso' when meeting friends or family.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo estás?Hi there, how are you?
- Hola a todos.Hi there, everyone.
- Hola, es un gusto verte.Hi there, it is a pleasure to see you.
Example conversation
María and Daniel meet on the street.
- MaríaHola, Daniel.Hi there, Daniel.
- DanielHola, María. ¿Qué tal?Hi there, María. How's it going?
- MaríaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
- DanielMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
