Say hello and goodbye in Spanish
Learn standard Spanish greetings and farewells for any time of day or formality level, with clear pronunciation and practical examples.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
If you've ever typed 'how to say hello in Spanish' into Google Translate, you probably got 'hola'—and that's correct. But Spanish greetings go far beyond a single word. The right choice depends on the time of day, how formal the situation is, and whether you're greeting a friend or an elder. This lesson gives you the essential phrases to greet and say goodbye naturally, with pronunciation and usage notes. You'll learn to distinguish casual and polite contexts, and avoid common mistakes. By the end, you'll be able to handle basic greetings in most everyday situations in Latin America and Spain.
By the end, you can…
- greet someone appropriately in Spanish depending on the time of day and level of formality.
- say goodbye in Spanish in both casual and polite contexts.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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¡Hola!
Hello!
OH-lah
Universal greeting, suitable for any time of day and any level of formality. Use it with friends, strangers, elders, and in professional settings.
Buenos días
Good morning
BWEH-nos DEE-as
Used from sunrise until around noon or lunchtime. In Spain, it may be used until lunch (around 2 or 3 PM). It's polite and common in both casual and formal situations.
Buenas tardes
Good afternoon
BWEH-nas TAR-des
Used from around noon or after lunch until sunset or around 7–8 PM. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts.
Buenas noches
Good evening / Good night
BWEH-nas NO-ches
Used after sunset both as a greeting (good evening) and as a farewell (good night). It's polite and works in any register.
Adiós
Goodbye
ah-DYOHS
Standard farewell for any time of day or formality level. It's neutral and widely understood.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
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Useful pattern
Spanish greetings often follow a simple pattern: a greeting word or phrase, optionally followed by a question about the other person. For example, after saying '¡Hola!', you can add '¿Cómo estás?' (How are you? informal) or '¿Cómo está?' (How are you? formal). Similarly, 'Buenos días' can stand alone or be followed by '¿Cómo le va?' (How are you? formal). The time-of-day greetings are fixed expressions; you don't change the adjective to match the person you're speaking to. So you say 'Buenos días' to both a male and a female friend. The plural form 'Buenos' is used even when addressing one person. This is a set phrase, not a grammatical agreement with the listener.
When to use it
Use '¡Hola!' in almost any situation, but note that in very formal contexts (e.g., meeting a dignitary), a time-of-day greeting may be more appropriate. For elders or strangers, 'Buenos días', 'Buenas tardes', or 'Buenas noches' are safer and show respect. Among friends, '¡Hola!' is perfect. For farewells, 'Adiós' works everywhere, but you can also use 'Hasta luego' (See you later) or 'Nos vemos' (See you) in casual settings. In formal settings, 'Adiós' or 'Hasta luego' are both acceptable. In some regions, 'Buenas' alone is used as a shortened form of any time-of-day greeting, especially in Spain. In Latin America, 'Buenas' is also heard but less common. Always consider the context: if you're unsure, '¡Hola!' and 'Adiós' are safe choices.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¡Buenos días, señora García! ¿Cómo está?
Good morning, Mrs. García! How are you?BWEH-nos DEE-as, seh-NYOH-rah gar-SEE-ah. KOH-moh es-TAHMuy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?
Very well, thank you. And you?mwee BYEHN, GRAH-syahs. ee oos-TEHBien, gracias. Me voy, que tenga buen día.
Good, thank you. I'm leaving, have a good day.BYEHN, GRAH-syahs. meh BOY, keh TEHN-gah BWEHN DEE-ahAdiós, hasta luego.
Goodbye, see you later.ah-DYOHS, AHS-tah LWEH-gohA little context goes a long way
In Spanish-speaking cultures, greetings are often accompanied by a physical gesture: a handshake in formal contexts, one or two cheek kisses in many Latin American countries and Spain, or a hug among friends. The exact custom varies by country and relationship. When in doubt, a handshake is safe. Also, using 'usted' (formal you) with elders or strangers shows respect, while 'tú' is for friends and peers. In some regions, 'vos' is used instead of 'tú'.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Buenos días' in the evening or 'Buenas noches' in the morning.
Try this instead: Match the greeting to the time of day. 'Buenos días' is for the morning, 'Buenas tardes' for the afternoon, and 'Buenas noches' for the evening or night. If you're unsure, '¡Hola!' works at any time.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1It's 3 PM. You walk into a shop and want to greet the shopkeeper politely. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Buenas tardes.
3 PM is in the afternoon, so 'Buenas tardes' is appropriate. '¡Hola!' would also be acceptable, but 'Buenas tardes' is more polite in a formal context.
2You're leaving a friend's house in the evening. What's a casual way to say goodbye?
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Nos vemos.
'Nos vemos' means 'See you' and is casual. 'Adiós' or 'Hasta luego' are also fine, but 'Nos vemos' is more informal.
3How would you greet an elderly person at 10 AM in a formal setting?
Show a sample answer
Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?
This uses the time-of-day greeting and the formal 'usted' form. You could also say 'Buenos días, señor/señora' without the question.
Use '¡Hola!' as a universal greeting, and match 'Buenos días', 'Buenas tardes', or 'Buenas noches' to the time of day. For farewells, 'Adiós' works everywhere, while 'Hasta luego' or 'Nos vemos' are more casual. When in doubt, be polite with 'usted' and a time-of-day greeting.
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