[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1357},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-say-hello-in-spanish":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"date":10,"author":11,"category":12,"tags":13,"body":18,"_type":1351,"_id":1352,"_source":1353,"_file":1354,"_stem":1355,"_extension":1356},"\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-say-hello-in-spanish","articles",false,"","How to Say Hello in Spanish: Hola, Buenos Días, and the Regional Variations","How to say hello in Spanish across regions and registers. Hola, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches, the formal and informal greetings, and regional variations across Spain and Latin America.","2026-06-05T00:00:00+00:00","Michael McGettrick","Methodology",[14,15,16,17],"spanish phrases","spanish vocabulary","spanish for beginners","greetings",{"type":19,"children":20,"toc":1321},"root",[21,30,44,51,61,66,71,77,82,169,174,180,185,190,195,200,205,211,223,229,234,418,423,429,434,459,464,486,491,503,509,514,625,630,636,642,670,676,721,727,772,778,826,832,860,866,884,890,896,901,944,950,955,997,1003,1008,1049,1061,1067,1206,1212,1217,1251,1257],{"type":22,"tag":23,"props":24,"children":26},"element","h1",{"id":25},"how-to-say-hello-in-spanish",[27],{"type":28,"value":29},"text","How to Say Hello in Spanish",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":32,"children":33},"p",{},[34,36,42],{"type":28,"value":35},"The default answer is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":38,"children":39},"strong",{},[40],{"type":28,"value":41},"hola",{"type":28,"value":43}," - \"hello.\" Universally understood from Spain to Argentina, casual and formal, works in any context. But Spanish greeting vocabulary is broader than the single word and the regional register matters more than English-speaking learners typically expect. This article covers the basic greetings, the time-of-day greetings, the formal-versus-informal distinction, the regional variations, and how to respond when someone greets you.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":46,"children":48},"h2",{"id":47},"the-basic-greeting",[49],{"type":28,"value":50},"The basic greeting",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":52,"children":53},{},[54,59],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":55,"children":56},{},[57],{"type":28,"value":58},"Hola",{"type":28,"value":60}," - \"hi\" or \"hello.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":62,"children":63},{},[64],{"type":28,"value":65},"Pronunciation: OH-la. The H is silent (Spanish H is always silent unless paired with C). Two syllables, first stressed.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":67,"children":68},{},[69],{"type":28,"value":70},"Hola is universal across the Spanish-speaking world. Friends greet each other with hola; strangers greet each other with hola; service staff greet customers with hola. It is the safest and most common greeting in Spanish.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":72,"children":74},{"id":73},"time-of-day-greetings",[75],{"type":28,"value":76},"Time-of-day greetings",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":78,"children":79},{},[80],{"type":28,"value":81},"Spanish has three time-of-day greetings that work alongside hola or replace it in slightly more formal contexts:",{"type":22,"tag":83,"props":84,"children":85},"table",{},[86,110],{"type":22,"tag":87,"props":88,"children":89},"thead",{},[90],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":92,"children":93},"tr",{},[94,100,105],{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":96,"children":97},"th",{},[98],{"type":28,"value":99},"Time of day",{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":101,"children":102},{},[103],{"type":28,"value":104},"Greeting",{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":106,"children":107},{},[108],{"type":28,"value":109},"Translation",{"type":22,"tag":111,"props":112,"children":113},"tbody",{},[114,133,151],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":115,"children":116},{},[117,123,128],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":119,"children":120},"td",{},[121],{"type":28,"value":122},"Morning (until ~13:00)",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":124,"children":125},{},[126],{"type":28,"value":127},"Buenos días",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":129,"children":130},{},[131],{"type":28,"value":132},"Good morning",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":134,"children":135},{},[136,141,146],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":137,"children":138},{},[139],{"type":28,"value":140},"Afternoon (~13:00 to 19:00)",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":142,"children":143},{},[144],{"type":28,"value":145},"Buenas tardes",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":147,"children":148},{},[149],{"type":28,"value":150},"Good afternoon",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":152,"children":153},{},[154,159,164],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":155,"children":156},{},[157],{"type":28,"value":158},"Evening (after sunset)",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":160,"children":161},{},[162],{"type":28,"value":163},"Buenas noches",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":165,"children":166},{},[167],{"type":28,"value":168},"Good evening \u002F Good night",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":170,"children":171},{},[172],{"type":28,"value":173},"A few practical points:",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":176,"children":178},"h3",{"id":177},"buenos-días",[179],{"type":28,"value":127},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":181,"children":182},{},[183],{"type":28,"value":184},"Literally \"good days\" (plural). Used as a greeting until early afternoon. In Spain, this typically transitions to buenas tardes after lunch, which can be as late as 15:00-16:00. In most of Latin America, the switch happens around 13:00-14:00.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":186,"children":188},{"id":187},"buenas-tardes",[189],{"type":28,"value":145},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":191,"children":192},{},[193],{"type":28,"value":194},"Literally \"good afternoons.\" Used from early afternoon until sunset. The transition to buenas noches happens at dusk, not at a specific hour.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":196,"children":198},{"id":197},"buenas-noches",[199],{"type":28,"value":163},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":201,"children":202},{},[203],{"type":28,"value":204},"Literally \"good nights.\" Functions as both \"good evening\" (greeting) and \"good night\" (farewell). The dual function is identical to English's \"good night\" except that English typically only uses \"good evening\" as a greeting.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":206,"children":208},{"id":207},"the-shortened-form-buenas",[209],{"type":28,"value":210},"The shortened form: buenas",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":212,"children":213},{},[214,216,221],{"type":28,"value":215},"In casual Spanish across all regions, you will frequently hear just ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":217,"children":218},{},[219],{"type":28,"value":220},"buenas",{"type":28,"value":222}," as a greeting at any time of day. It is a casual contraction that lets the listener fill in the appropriate \"días,\" \"tardes\" or \"noches\" based on the time. Use it as a casual fallback when you are unsure of the right time-of-day greeting.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":224,"children":226},{"id":225},"casual-greetings-beyond-hola",[227],{"type":28,"value":228},"Casual greetings beyond hola",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":230,"children":231},{},[232],{"type":28,"value":233},"Spanish has substantial casual greeting vocabulary for friends and informal contexts:",{"type":22,"tag":83,"props":235,"children":236},{},[237,257],{"type":22,"tag":87,"props":238,"children":239},{},[240],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":241,"children":242},{},[243,248,252],{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":244,"children":245},{},[246],{"type":28,"value":247},"Casual greeting",{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":249,"children":250},{},[251],{"type":28,"value":109},{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":253,"children":254},{},[255],{"type":28,"value":256},"Where used",{"type":22,"tag":111,"props":258,"children":259},{},[260,278,295,312,329,347,365,382,400],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":261,"children":262},{},[263,268,273],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":264,"children":265},{},[266],{"type":28,"value":267},"Que tal?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":269,"children":270},{},[271],{"type":28,"value":272},"How are you \u002F What's up?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":274,"children":275},{},[276],{"type":28,"value":277},"Universal",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":279,"children":280},{},[281,286,291],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":282,"children":283},{},[284],{"type":28,"value":285},"Como estas?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":287,"children":288},{},[289],{"type":28,"value":290},"How are you (informal)?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":292,"children":293},{},[294],{"type":28,"value":277},{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":296,"children":297},{},[298,303,308],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":299,"children":300},{},[301],{"type":28,"value":302},"Como esta?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":304,"children":305},{},[306],{"type":28,"value":307},"How are you (formal)?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":309,"children":310},{},[311],{"type":28,"value":277},{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":313,"children":314},{},[315,320,325],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":316,"children":317},{},[318],{"type":28,"value":319},"Como va?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":321,"children":322},{},[323],{"type":28,"value":324},"How is it going?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":326,"children":327},{},[328],{"type":28,"value":277},{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":330,"children":331},{},[332,337,342],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":333,"children":334},{},[335],{"type":28,"value":336},"Que pasa?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":338,"children":339},{},[340],{"type":28,"value":341},"What's happening?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":343,"children":344},{},[345],{"type":28,"value":346},"Spain, Mexico",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":348,"children":349},{},[350,355,360],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":351,"children":352},{},[353],{"type":28,"value":354},"Que onda?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":356,"children":357},{},[358],{"type":28,"value":359},"What's up?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":361,"children":362},{},[363],{"type":28,"value":364},"Mexico, Central America",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":366,"children":367},{},[368,373,377],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":369,"children":370},{},[371],{"type":28,"value":372},"Que hubo? \u002F Quihubo?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":374,"children":375},{},[376],{"type":28,"value":359},{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":378,"children":379},{},[380],{"type":28,"value":381},"Colombia, Mexico",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":383,"children":384},{},[385,390,395],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":386,"children":387},{},[388],{"type":28,"value":389},"Hola, que cuentas?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":391,"children":392},{},[393],{"type":28,"value":394},"Hi, what's new?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":396,"children":397},{},[398],{"type":28,"value":399},"Spain, Latin America",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":401,"children":402},{},[403,408,413],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":404,"children":405},{},[406],{"type":28,"value":407},"Buenas!",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":409,"children":410},{},[411],{"type":28,"value":412},"Hi there",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":414,"children":415},{},[416],{"type":28,"value":417},"Universal casual",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":419,"children":420},{},[421],{"type":28,"value":422},"The Latin American casual register is rich with regional variants. Foreign learners who use only \"hola\" sound technically correct but somewhat generic; integrating a regional casual greeting marks you as more attuned to local conventions.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":424,"children":426},{"id":425},"formal-versus-informal",[427],{"type":28,"value":428},"Formal versus informal",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":430,"children":431},{},[432],{"type":28,"value":433},"Spanish has a strict formal-versus-informal distinction in pronouns that affects greetings:",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":436,"children":437},"ul",{},[438,449],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":440,"children":441},"li",{},[442,447],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":443,"children":444},{},[445],{"type":28,"value":446},"Tu",{"type":28,"value":448}," (you, informal) - friends, family, peers, children",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":450,"children":451},{},[452,457],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":453,"children":454},{},[455],{"type":28,"value":456},"Usted",{"type":28,"value":458}," (you, formal) - strangers, elders, professionals, formal contexts",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":460,"children":461},{},[462],{"type":28,"value":463},"The greeting itself does not change but the follow-up question does:",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":465,"children":466},{},[467,476],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":468,"children":469},{},[470,474],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":471,"children":472},{},[473],{"type":28,"value":285},{"type":28,"value":475}," (How are you?) - informal, uses tu",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":477,"children":478},{},[479,484],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":480,"children":481},{},[482],{"type":28,"value":483},"Como esta usted?",{"type":28,"value":485}," (How are you?) - formal, uses usted",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":487,"children":488},{},[489],{"type":28,"value":490},"In Spain, the formal usted is rarer and reserved for genuinely formal contexts (a much older stranger, formal business interactions, very traditional settings). Younger Spaniards default to tu with almost everyone under 60.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494,496,501],{"type":28,"value":495},"In most of Latin America, usted is more frequently used. In Colombia and parts of Central America, usted is sometimes used between close friends and even within families. In Argentina and Uruguay, the ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":497,"children":498},{},[499],{"type":28,"value":500},"vos",{"type":28,"value":502}," pronoun (a third form) replaces tu in casual contexts - \"como estas vos?\" or simply \"como va?\".",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":504,"children":506},{"id":505},"responding-to-greetings",[507],{"type":28,"value":508},"Responding to greetings",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":510,"children":511},{},[512],{"type":28,"value":513},"Standard Spanish response patterns:",{"type":22,"tag":83,"props":515,"children":516},{},[517,536],{"type":22,"tag":87,"props":518,"children":519},{},[520],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":521,"children":522},{},[523,527,532],{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":524,"children":525},{},[526],{"type":28,"value":104},{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":528,"children":529},{},[530],{"type":28,"value":531},"Response",{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":533,"children":534},{},[535],{"type":28,"value":109},{"type":22,"tag":111,"props":537,"children":538},{},[539,557,574,591,608],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":540,"children":541},{},[542,547,552],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":543,"children":544},{},[545],{"type":28,"value":546},"Hola, que tal?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":548,"children":549},{},[550],{"type":28,"value":551},"Hola, bien, gracias.",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":553,"children":554},{},[555],{"type":28,"value":556},"Hello, well, thanks.",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":558,"children":559},{},[560,564,569],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":561,"children":562},{},[563],{"type":28,"value":285},{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":565,"children":566},{},[567],{"type":28,"value":568},"Bien, gracias. Y tu?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":570,"children":571},{},[572],{"type":28,"value":573},"Well, thanks. And you?",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":575,"children":576},{},[577,581,586],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":578,"children":579},{},[580],{"type":28,"value":483},{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":582,"children":583},{},[584],{"type":28,"value":585},"Bien, gracias. Y usted?",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":587,"children":588},{},[589],{"type":28,"value":590},"Well, thanks. And you (formal)?",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":592,"children":593},{},[594,598,603],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":595,"children":596},{},[597],{"type":28,"value":267},{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":599,"children":600},{},[601],{"type":28,"value":602},"Todo bien.",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":604,"children":605},{},[606],{"type":28,"value":607},"All good.",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":609,"children":610},{},[611,615,620],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":612,"children":613},{},[614],{"type":28,"value":354},{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":616,"children":617},{},[618],{"type":28,"value":619},"Aqui, tranquilo.",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":621,"children":622},{},[623],{"type":28,"value":624},"Just relaxed.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":626,"children":627},{},[628],{"type":28,"value":629},"The cultural norm: Spanish greetings expect a reciprocal \"y tu?\" or \"y usted?\" (and you?). Cutting off after \"bien, gracias\" without asking back is technically correct but slightly cold. Native speakers nearly always ask back.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":631,"children":633},{"id":632},"regional-variations",[634],{"type":28,"value":635},"Regional variations",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":637,"children":639},{"id":638},"spain",[640],{"type":28,"value":641},"Spain",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":643,"children":644},{},[645,655,660,665],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":646,"children":647},{},[648,653],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":649,"children":650},{},[651],{"type":28,"value":652},"Hola, buenas, que tal?",{"type":28,"value":654}," is the universal Spanish casual greeting.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":656,"children":657},{},[658],{"type":28,"value":659},"The afternoon (tarde) starts later than in Latin America - typically after 14:00-15:00 lunch.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":661,"children":662},{},[663],{"type":28,"value":664},"The Castilian Z and C produce the lisp sound (theta) but greetings themselves do not contain these letters, so the greetings sound similar to Latin American Spanish.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":666,"children":667},{},[668],{"type":28,"value":669},"Use of usted is rare and reserved for highly formal contexts.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":671,"children":673},{"id":672},"mexico",[674],{"type":28,"value":675},"Mexico",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":677,"children":678},{},[679,701,711],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":680,"children":681},{},[682,686,688,692,694,699],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":683,"children":684},{},[685],{"type":28,"value":58},{"type":28,"value":687}," is universal; ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":689,"children":690},{},[691],{"type":28,"value":220},{"type":28,"value":693}," and ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":695,"children":696},{},[697],{"type":28,"value":698},"que onda",{"type":28,"value":700}," are widely used casually.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":702,"children":703},{},[704,709],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":705,"children":706},{},[707],{"type":28,"value":708},"Mande?",{"type":28,"value":710}," (excuse me \u002F pardon?) when not hearing someone is distinctly Mexican.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":712,"children":713},{},[714,719],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":715,"children":716},{},[717],{"type":28,"value":718},"Como estas, amigo \u002F amiga?",{"type":28,"value":720}," with the diminutive is common in friendly casual contexts.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":722,"children":724},{"id":723},"argentina",[725],{"type":28,"value":726},"Argentina",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":728,"children":729},{},[730,744,755,767],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":731,"children":732},{},[733,737,738,742],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":734,"children":735},{},[736],{"type":28,"value":58},{"type":28,"value":687},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":739,"children":740},{},[741],{"type":28,"value":220},{"type":28,"value":743}," is widely used.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":745,"children":746},{},[747,749,753],{"type":28,"value":748},"The ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":750,"children":751},{},[752],{"type":28,"value":500},{"type":28,"value":754}," pronoun replaces tu: \"como estas vos?\"",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":756,"children":757},{},[758,760,765],{"type":28,"value":759},"The casual ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":761,"children":762},{},[763],{"type":28,"value":764},"che!",{"type":28,"value":766}," is the Argentine equivalent of \"hey!\" or \"mate!\" - widely used between friends as an attention-getter.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":768,"children":769},{},[770],{"type":28,"value":771},"The Rio Plata accent (Buenos Aires and Montevideo) gives a distinctive Italian-influenced intonation.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":773,"children":775},{"id":774},"colombia",[776],{"type":28,"value":777},"Colombia",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":779,"children":780},{},[781,803,808],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":782,"children":783},{},[784,788,789,794,796,801],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":785,"children":786},{},[787],{"type":28,"value":58},{"type":28,"value":687},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":790,"children":791},{},[792],{"type":28,"value":793},"que hubo",{"type":28,"value":795}," (often contracted to ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":797,"children":798},{},[799],{"type":28,"value":800},"quihubo",{"type":28,"value":802},") is widely used.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":804,"children":805},{},[806],{"type":28,"value":807},"The use of usted between close friends and within families is distinctive.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":809,"children":810},{},[811,812,817,819,824],{"type":28,"value":759},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":813,"children":814},{},[815],{"type":28,"value":816},"parche",{"type":28,"value":818}," (a hangout, a get-together) and ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":820,"children":821},{},[822],{"type":28,"value":823},"parcero",{"type":28,"value":825}," (friend, mate) are Colombian-specific vocabulary worth knowing for casual conversation.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":827,"children":829},{"id":828},"chile",[830],{"type":28,"value":831},"Chile",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":833,"children":834},{},[835,845,850],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":836,"children":837},{},[838,843],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":839,"children":840},{},[841],{"type":28,"value":842},"Hola, buenas",{"type":28,"value":844}," is universal.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":846,"children":847},{},[848],{"type":28,"value":849},"Chilean Spanish has substantial unique slang (Chilean Spanish is sometimes considered the most distinctive Spanish regional variety for foreign speakers to understand).",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":851,"children":852},{},[853,858],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":854,"children":855},{},[856],{"type":28,"value":857},"Cachai?",{"type":28,"value":859}," (You get it?) at the end of statements is distinctively Chilean.",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":861,"children":863},{"id":862},"peru-ecuador-bolivia-andean-spanish",[864],{"type":28,"value":865},"Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia (Andean Spanish)",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":867,"children":868},{},[869,874,879],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":870,"children":871},{},[872],{"type":28,"value":873},"Standard greetings (hola, buenos dias, buenas tardes) dominate.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":875,"children":876},{},[877],{"type":28,"value":878},"The accent is widely considered one of the clearest forms of Spanish for foreign learners.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":880,"children":881},{},[882],{"type":28,"value":883},"Andean Spanish has less local slang than Mexican, Argentine or Chilean Spanish, which makes formal vocabulary travel reliably.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":885,"children":887},{"id":886},"special-situations",[888],{"type":28,"value":889},"Special situations",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":891,"children":893},{"id":892},"phone-greetings",[894],{"type":28,"value":895},"Phone greetings",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":897,"children":898},{},[899],{"type":28,"value":900},"When answering the phone, the convention varies:",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":902,"children":903},{},[904,914,924,934],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":905,"children":906},{},[907,912],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":908,"children":909},{},[910],{"type":28,"value":911},"Diga?",{"type":28,"value":913}," (Speak?) - Spain",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":915,"children":916},{},[917,922],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":918,"children":919},{},[920],{"type":28,"value":921},"Hola? Si?",{"type":28,"value":923}," (Hello? Yes?) - Latin America generally",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":925,"children":926},{},[927,932],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":928,"children":929},{},[930],{"type":28,"value":931},"Bueno?",{"type":28,"value":933}," (Good?) - Mexico",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":935,"children":936},{},[937,942],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":938,"children":939},{},[940],{"type":28,"value":941},"Alo?",{"type":28,"value":943}," (Hello?) - Argentina",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":945,"children":947},{"id":946},"greeting-in-writing",[948],{"type":28,"value":949},"Greeting in writing",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":951,"children":952},{},[953],{"type":28,"value":954},"Email and message greetings follow the spoken pattern with slight formality variations:",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":956,"children":957},{},[958,967,977,987],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":959,"children":960},{},[961,965],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":962,"children":963},{},[964],{"type":28,"value":58},{"type":28,"value":966}," - casual",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":968,"children":969},{},[970,975],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":971,"children":972},{},[973],{"type":28,"value":974},"Buenos dias \u002F Buenas tardes",{"type":28,"value":976}," - moderately formal",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":978,"children":979},{},[980,985],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":981,"children":982},{},[983],{"type":28,"value":984},"Estimado \u002F Estimada",{"type":28,"value":986}," (Dear) - formal business",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":988,"children":989},{},[990,995],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":991,"children":992},{},[993],{"type":28,"value":994},"Querido \u002F Querida",{"type":28,"value":996}," (Dear, intimate) - personal, between friends or family",{"type":22,"tag":175,"props":998,"children":1000},{"id":999},"kissing-as-greeting",[1001],{"type":28,"value":1002},"Kissing as greeting",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":1004,"children":1005},{},[1006],{"type":28,"value":1007},"In Spain and much of Latin America, kissing once or twice on the cheeks is the standard greeting between friends and acquaintances:",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":1009,"children":1010},{},[1011,1020,1030,1039],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1012,"children":1013},{},[1014,1018],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1015,"children":1016},{},[1017],{"type":28,"value":641},{"type":28,"value":1019},": two kisses (one on each cheek), starting with right cheek.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1021,"children":1022},{},[1023,1028],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1024,"children":1025},{},[1026],{"type":28,"value":1027},"Argentina, Uruguay",{"type":28,"value":1029},": one kiss.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1031,"children":1032},{},[1033,1037],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1034,"children":1035},{},[1036],{"type":28,"value":675},{"type":28,"value":1038},": one kiss (women to women, women to men in casual contexts).",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1040,"children":1041},{},[1042,1047],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1043,"children":1044},{},[1045],{"type":28,"value":1046},"Colombia, Peru",{"type":28,"value":1048},": one kiss in casual contexts; handshake in formal contexts.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":1050,"children":1051},{},[1052,1054,1059],{"type":28,"value":1053},"The cheek-kiss is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1055,"children":1056},{},[1057],{"type":28,"value":1058},"not",{"type":28,"value":1060}," a formal greeting; it is the casual register among friends. Strangers and formal contexts default to handshake.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":1062,"children":1064},{"id":1063},"a-few-useful-related-phrases",[1065],{"type":28,"value":1066},"A few useful related phrases",{"type":22,"tag":83,"props":1068,"children":1069},{},[1070,1086],{"type":22,"tag":87,"props":1071,"children":1072},{},[1073],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1074,"children":1075},{},[1076,1081],{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":1077,"children":1078},{},[1079],{"type":28,"value":1080},"Phrase",{"type":22,"tag":95,"props":1082,"children":1083},{},[1084],{"type":28,"value":1085},"Meaning",{"type":22,"tag":111,"props":1087,"children":1088},{},[1089,1102,1115,1128,1141,1154,1167,1180,1193],{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1090,"children":1091},{},[1092,1097],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1093,"children":1094},{},[1095],{"type":28,"value":1096},"Mucho gusto",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1098,"children":1099},{},[1100],{"type":28,"value":1101},"Pleased to meet you (introduction)",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1103,"children":1104},{},[1105,1110],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1106,"children":1107},{},[1108],{"type":28,"value":1109},"Encantado \u002F Encantada",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1111,"children":1112},{},[1113],{"type":28,"value":1114},"Pleased (introduction, gender-agreeing)",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1116,"children":1117},{},[1118,1123],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1119,"children":1120},{},[1121],{"type":28,"value":1122},"Bienvenido \u002F Bienvenida",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1124,"children":1125},{},[1126],{"type":28,"value":1127},"Welcome",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1129,"children":1130},{},[1131,1136],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1132,"children":1133},{},[1134],{"type":28,"value":1135},"Adios",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1137,"children":1138},{},[1139],{"type":28,"value":1140},"Goodbye (final)",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1142,"children":1143},{},[1144,1149],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1145,"children":1146},{},[1147],{"type":28,"value":1148},"Hasta luego",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1150,"children":1151},{},[1152],{"type":28,"value":1153},"See you later",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1155,"children":1156},{},[1157,1162],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1158,"children":1159},{},[1160],{"type":28,"value":1161},"Hasta manana",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1163,"children":1164},{},[1165],{"type":28,"value":1166},"See you tomorrow",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1168,"children":1169},{},[1170,1175],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1171,"children":1172},{},[1173],{"type":28,"value":1174},"Hasta pronto",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1176,"children":1177},{},[1178],{"type":28,"value":1179},"See you soon",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1181,"children":1182},{},[1183,1188],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1184,"children":1185},{},[1186],{"type":28,"value":1187},"Nos vemos",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1189,"children":1190},{},[1191],{"type":28,"value":1192},"We see each other (casual goodbye)",{"type":22,"tag":91,"props":1194,"children":1195},{},[1196,1201],{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1197,"children":1198},{},[1199],{"type":28,"value":1200},"Chao",{"type":22,"tag":118,"props":1202,"children":1203},{},[1204],{"type":28,"value":1205},"Bye (very casual, Italian-borrowed)",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":1207,"children":1209},{"id":1208},"how-to-actually-internalise-these",[1210],{"type":28,"value":1211},"How to actually internalise these",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":1213,"children":1214},{},[1215],{"type":28,"value":1216},"Three practical recommendations:",{"type":22,"tag":1218,"props":1219,"children":1220},"ol",{},[1221,1231,1241],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1222,"children":1223},{},[1224,1229],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1225,"children":1226},{},[1227],{"type":28,"value":1228},"Pair hola with a time-of-day greeting when meeting strangers.",{"type":28,"value":1230}," \"Hola, buenas tardes\" reads more polished than just \"hola\" in unfamiliar service contexts.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1232,"children":1233},{},[1234,1239],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1235,"children":1236},{},[1237],{"type":28,"value":1238},"Reciprocate the question.",{"type":28,"value":1240}," When someone asks \"como estas?\", always reply with \"bien, gracias, y tu?\" The reciprocation is the polite norm.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1242,"children":1243},{},[1244,1249],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":1245,"children":1246},{},[1247],{"type":28,"value":1248},"Pick up one or two regional casual greetings",{"type":28,"value":1250}," for the country you are focusing on. If you are learning Mexican Spanish, integrate \"que onda\" alongside \"hola\"; if Argentine Spanish, use \"che\" as an attention-getter. Generic Spanish without regional flavour reads as textbook.",{"type":22,"tag":45,"props":1252,"children":1254},{"id":1253},"cross-references",[1255],{"type":28,"value":1256},"Cross-references",{"type":22,"tag":435,"props":1258,"children":1259},{},[1260,1273,1285,1297,1309],{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1261,"children":1262},{},[1263,1264,1271],{"type":28,"value":748},{"type":22,"tag":1265,"props":1266,"children":1268},"a",{"href":1267},"\u002Fspanish",[1269],{"type":28,"value":1270},"Spanish for adult learners pillar",{"type":28,"value":1272}," covers the wider Spanish learning approach.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1274,"children":1275},{},[1276,1277,1283],{"type":28,"value":748},{"type":22,"tag":1265,"props":1278,"children":1280},{"href":1279},"\u002Fspanish\u002Faccents",[1281],{"type":28,"value":1282},"Spanish accents guide",{"type":28,"value":1284}," covers the regional variety choice in detail.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1286,"children":1287},{},[1288,1289,1295],{"type":28,"value":748},{"type":22,"tag":1265,"props":1290,"children":1292},{"href":1291},"\u002Fspanish\u002Fgrammar",[1293],{"type":28,"value":1294},"Spanish grammar cheatsheet",{"type":28,"value":1296}," covers the structures underlying these greetings.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1298,"children":1299},{},[1300,1301,1307],{"type":28,"value":748},{"type":22,"tag":1265,"props":1302,"children":1304},{"href":1303},"\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-say-thank-you-in-spanish",[1305],{"type":28,"value":1306},"how to say thank you in Spanish article",{"type":28,"value":1308}," covers the gratitude vocabulary that pairs with greetings.",{"type":22,"tag":439,"props":1310,"children":1311},{},[1312,1313,1319],{"type":28,"value":748},{"type":22,"tag":1265,"props":1314,"children":1316},{"href":1315},"\u002Farticles\u002Fcommon-mistakes-spanish-english-speakers",[1317],{"type":28,"value":1318},"common mistakes for English speakers in Spanish article",{"type":28,"value":1320}," covers register and vocabulary gaps that frequently affect greeting interactions.",{"title":7,"searchDepth":1322,"depth":1322,"links":1323},2,[1324,1325,1332,1333,1334,1335,1343,1348,1349,1350],{"id":47,"depth":1322,"text":50},{"id":73,"depth":1322,"text":76,"children":1326},[1327,1329,1330,1331],{"id":177,"depth":1328,"text":127},3,{"id":187,"depth":1328,"text":145},{"id":197,"depth":1328,"text":163},{"id":207,"depth":1328,"text":210},{"id":225,"depth":1322,"text":228},{"id":425,"depth":1322,"text":428},{"id":505,"depth":1322,"text":508},{"id":632,"depth":1322,"text":635,"children":1336},[1337,1338,1339,1340,1341,1342],{"id":638,"depth":1328,"text":641},{"id":672,"depth":1328,"text":675},{"id":723,"depth":1328,"text":726},{"id":774,"depth":1328,"text":777},{"id":828,"depth":1328,"text":831},{"id":862,"depth":1328,"text":865},{"id":886,"depth":1322,"text":889,"children":1344},[1345,1346,1347],{"id":892,"depth":1328,"text":895},{"id":946,"depth":1328,"text":949},{"id":999,"depth":1328,"text":1002},{"id":1063,"depth":1322,"text":1066},{"id":1208,"depth":1322,"text":1211},{"id":1253,"depth":1322,"text":1256},"markdown","content:articles:how-to-say-hello-in-spanish.md","content","articles\u002Fhow-to-say-hello-in-spanish.md","articles\u002Fhow-to-say-hello-in-spanish","md",1780941685602]