1. Hola – The Basic Greeting

The most common way to say “hello” in Spanish is “Hola”. It’s simple and works in any situation, formal or informal.
- Example:
- Hola, ¿cómo estás? – Hello, how are you?
2. Other Common Greetings
Depending on the time of day or situation, Spanish speakers use different greetings.
Buenos días – Good Morning
Use “Buenos días” to say good morning, from sunrise until around noon.
- Example:
- Buenos días, señor. – Good morning, sir.
Buenas tardes – Good Afternoon
After midday, switch to “Buenas tardes”, which means good afternoon.
- Example:
- Buenas tardes, profesora. – Good afternoon, teacher.
Buenas noches – Good Evening/Good Night
In the evening or before bed, say “Buenas noches”. It can mean both good evening and good night.
- Example:
- Buenas noches, amigos. – Good evening, friends.
3. Casual Greetings
For informal or friendly settings, there are casual ways to greet people:
¿Qué tal? – What’s up?

- Example:
- ¿Qué tal, Ana? – What’s up, Ana?
¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (informal)
This is used when talking to friends or people you know well.
- Example:
- ¿Cómo estás, Juan? – How are you, Juan?
4. Formal Greetings
In more formal situations, you need to use polite phrases:
¿Cómo está usted? – How are you? (formal)
This is a respectful way to ask someone how they are, especially elders or in a professional setting.
- Example:
- ¿Cómo está usted, doctor? – How are you, doctor?
5. Goodbyes in Spanish
Just like greetings, there are different ways to say goodbye.
Adiós – Goodbye

“Adiós” is the most common way to say goodbye. You can use it anytime.
- Example:
- Adiós, nos vemos pronto. – Goodbye, see you soon.
Hasta luego – See you later
- Example:
- Hasta luego, amigo. – See you later, friend.
Chao – Bye
For a quick, casual goodbye, you can use “Chao”, especially in Latin America.
- Example:
- Chao, que tengas un buen día. – Bye, have a nice day.
Quick Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct greeting or goodbye:
- (a) ________, ¿cómo está usted? (formal greeting)
- (b) ________, nos vemos mañana. (goodbye)
- (c) ________, Ana, ¿qué tal? (informal greeting)
2. Match the Spanish greetings to the correct English meaning:
- Buenos días
- Hasta luego
- Buenas noches
a) See you later
b) Good morning
c) Good night
3. Translate the following phrases to Spanish:
- a) Good morning, how are you?
- b) See you later, take care.
- c) Bye, see you tomorrow.
4. Choose the correct greeting based on the time of day:
- a) It’s 10 AM, you say: ______________
- (1) Buenos días
- (2) Buenas noches
- (3) ¿Qué tal?
- b) It’s 3 PM, you say: ______________
- (1) Buenas tardes
- (2) Buenos días
- (3) Adiós
- c) You’re going to bed, you say: ______________
- (1) Buenas noches
- (2) Buenos días
- (3) Hola
5. Create a dialogue:
Write a short dialogue using at least two greetings and two goodbyes from this lesson.
Answers to the exercises
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct greeting or goodbye:
- (a) Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted? (formal greeting)
- (b) Adiós, nos vemos mañana. (goodbye)
- (c) Hola, Ana, ¿qué tal? (informal greeting)
2. Match the Spanish greetings to the correct English meaning:
- Buenos días → (b) Good morning
- Hasta luego → (a) See you later
- Buenas noches → (c) Good night
3. Translate the following phrases to Spanish:
- a) Buenos días, ¿cómo estás?
- b) Hasta luego, cuídate.
- c) Chao, nos vemos mañana.
4. Choose the correct greeting based on the time of day:
- a) It’s 10 AM, you say: (1) Buenos días
- b) It’s 3 PM, you say: (1) Buenas tardes
- c) You’re going to bed, you say: (1) Buenas noches
5. Create a dialogue:
Example:
- Ana: Hola, ¿cómo estás?
- Juan: Hola, estoy bien, ¿y tú?
- Ana: Muy bien, gracias. Hasta luego.
- Juan: Chao, nos vemos mañana.
Conclusion
Learning how to say hello and goodbye in Spanish is a great way to start connecting with Spanish speakers. Practice these phrases regularly, and soon you’ll greet people with confidence, whether you’re in a formal meeting or chatting with friends.