How to Say Hi in Spanish
How do you say hi in Spanish? Say 'Hola' (OH-lah) — the silent-H universal greeting. Casual, formal & regional ways to say hi with pronunciation.
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Quick answer
To say hi in Spanish, say 'Hola' (OH-lah). The 'H' is completely silent, so it sounds like 'OH-lah,' not 'HOH-lah.' It works in every situation — formal or informal, with strangers or friends. For a more casual 'hi, what's up?' add '¿Qué tal?' (keh tahl).
Hola
/OH-lah/ — Spanish
How to Say Hi in Spanish
Spanish is spoken by more than 480 million native speakers across 20+ countries, and one short, friendly word greets every one of them: Hola. Whether you are texting a friend in Madrid or meeting a colleague in Mexico City, Hola is the word you reach for first.
The Essential Greeting: Hola
Hola — pronounced OH-lah
The single most important pronunciation rule in all of Spanish applies here: the letter ‘H’ is silent. Spanish never voices an H, so Hola is “OH-lah,” not “HOH-lah.” This is the number-one beginner mistake.
Hola works:
- Formally and informally
- With strangers, colleagues, friends, and family
- In person, on the phone, and in writing
- Across every Spanish-speaking country
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish word for hi is Hola (OH-lah).
Casual & Friendly Ways to Say Hi
Spanish loves a quick “hi, what’s up?” opener. These pair naturally after Hola:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning / When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | OH-lah | Universal “hi” — any situation |
| ¿Qué tal? | keh tahl | What’s up? / How’s it going? |
| ¿Qué pasa? | keh PAH-sah | What’s happening? (casual) |
| ¿Qué hay? | keh eye | What’s up? (casual) |
| Buenas | BWEH-nas | Friendly all-purpose “hi” |
| Hola, ¿cómo estás? | OH-lah KOH-mo es-TAHS | Hi, how are you? (informal) |
| Hola, ¿cómo está? | OH-lah KOH-mo es-TAH | Hi, how are you? (formal) |
Formal vs. Informal
Hola itself is register-neutral, but what follows signals formality. Spanish distinguishes two “you” forms:
- Tú (informal) — friends, family, peers, children → “Hola, ¿cómo estás?”
- Usted (formal) — strangers, elders, superiors, business → “Hola, ¿cómo está usted?”
When greeting someone older or in a professional setting and you are unsure, default to usted. Adding a time-of-day greeting also lifts the politeness: Hola, buenos días (Hi, good morning) is courteous and warm.
Regional Ways to Say Hi
Spanish is wonderfully varied. Casual “hi” changes country to country:
- Mexico: ¿Qué onda? (keh OHN-dah) / ¿Qué tal?
- Spain: ¿Qué tal? / Buenas
- Colombia: ¿Quiubo? (KYOO-bo) / ¿Qué más?
- Argentina & Uruguay: ¿Qué hacés? (keh ah-SEHS) / Buenas
- Caribbean: ¿Qué lo qué? (Dominican Republic)
All of these still work alongside Hola, which is universally understood.
Pronunciation Tips
- Silent H: Never pronounce the H in Hola (or in any Spanish word).
- Pure vowels: The Spanish “o” and “a” are short and crisp — no gliding like in English.
- Stress: Hola is stressed on the first syllable: OH-lah.
- The inverted ¿: Written casual greetings open with an upside-down question mark — ¿Qué tal? — and close with a normal one.
Cultural Notes
Greetings in Spanish-speaking cultures are warm and personal. A Hola is often accompanied by a handshake, a one-cheek kiss (Latin America) or a two-cheek kiss (Spain) among friends and family. Skipping the greeting can come across as cold, so always lead with Hola before getting down to business — it sets a friendly, respectful tone everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hi in Spanish?
You say 'Hola' (OH-lah). It's the universal Spanish greeting and works everywhere — formal or casual. Remember the 'H' is silent, so it's pronounced 'OH-lah.' For a friendlier 'hi there,' say 'Hola, ¿qué tal?' (OH-lah, keh tahl).
How do you pronounce Hola?
It's pronounced 'OH-lah.' The single most important rule is that the letter 'H' is always silent in Spanish — never say 'HOH-lah.' The 'o' is a short, clean vowel and 'la' rhymes with 'ah.' Stress falls on the first syllable: OH-lah.
Is Hola formal or informal in Spanish?
'Hola' is neutral and works in both formal and informal settings — with friends, strangers, colleagues, and elders alike. To make it more polite, pair it with a time greeting: 'Hola, buenos días' (Hi, good morning) sounds warm and professional.
What does Hola literally mean?
'Hola' simply means 'hi' or 'hello' — it has no other literal meaning and is not built from other words. Its origin is debated, possibly linked to an old expressive interjection, but today it functions purely as an all-purpose greeting.
What is a casual way to say hi in Spanish?
Casual options include '¿Qué tal?' (keh tahl — what's up?), '¿Qué pasa?' (keh PAH-sah — what's happening?), and 'Buenas' (BWEH-nas — a friendly shortening). In Mexico people say '¿Qué onda?' (keh OHN-dah), and in Colombia '¿Quiubo?' (KYOO-bo).