hola
/ˈola/
The Spanish phrase for hi is hola.
Hola is the most common and versatile way to say hi informally.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Buenas is a regional variation for saying hi. In Argentina, Hola, ¿cómo va? is a regional variation for saying hi, while in Colombia, ¿Qué más? is a regional variation for saying hi.
How does it change in a sentence?
In written Spanish, an exclamation mark is used at both the beginning and the end of the word to indicate the tone.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly pronounce the 'h' in hola as an aspirated sound like the English 'h' in 'hi'.
Did you know?
- The word hola is related to the Old High German word holā, which was used to hail a ferryman.
- Despite its common use, hola is considered too informal for some traditional professional settings, where people prefer buenos días.
- In written digital communication, Spanish speakers often stretch the word into holaaa to convey a sense of enthusiasm or affection.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estás?Hi! How are you?This sentence 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 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 to state that you are new.Tatoeba #1666523 by marcelostockle, translation #1654229 by Spamster
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo see each other at a café.
- Sofía¡Hola, Mateo!Hi, Mateo!
- MateoHola, Sofía. ¿Cómo estás?Hi, Sofía. How are you?
- SofíaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
- MateoMe alegro mucho.I am very happy to hear that.
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.
