hola
/ˈola/
The Spanish word for hello is hola. Wiktionary also lists holi and holis.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hola | /ˈola/ | |
| holi | /ˈoli/ | familiar |
| holis | /ˈolis/ |
The primary way to say hello is hola. For more specific times of day, you can use the formal phrases Buenos días (Good morning) or Buenas tardes (Good afternoon).
Which one should you use?
hola is the standard greeting used in almost any situation. In contrast, holi and holis are restricted to very casual, playful contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly informal, cute or slangy way to say hello, often used in texting or among close friends, you can use holi or its playful variation holis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
Did you know?
- The word hola might actually be an old command to stop or pay attention, rather than a friendly greeting. It likely traces back to the French expression holà, which was used to hail someone or tell them to wait.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a verbal 'hello' is often accompanied by a physical greeting like a kiss on the cheek or a hug. In many countries, simply saying hola without physical contact can feel strangely distant or even cold.
- Because the 'h' is silent in hola, the word is a homophone for the Spanish word ola, which means 'wave' in the ocean. This can lead to funny wordplay or puns in Spanish poetry and songs.
Examples in context
- Dile hola a Jimmy.Say hello to Jimmy.This sentence is useful for practicing how to tell someone to say hello to a person.Tatoeba #1240331 by Shishir, translation #53376 by CP
- Tom nunca dice hola.Tom never says hello.This sentence shows an example of someone who does not say hello.Tatoeba #5939755 by arh, translation #5939656 by CK
- Di hola a tus amigos.Say hello to your friends.This sentence is useful for practicing how to say hello to a group of friends.Tatoeba #741281 by Shishir, translation #70346 by CK
- Buenos días, señorita López.Good morning, Miss López.
- Hola, ¿qué tal?Hello, how are you?
- ¡Saludos! ¿Todo bien?Greetings! Is everything good?
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena meet on a sunny street.
- Mateo¡Hola, Elena!Hello, Elena!
- Elena¡Hola, Mateo! ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Mateo! How are you?
- MateoMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
- ElenaMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries hola, holi, holis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, holis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
