Say hello and goodbye in Spanish
Learn essential Spanish greetings and goodbyes for Latin America, with pronunciation and when to use each. Perfect for beginners starting conversations.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Starting a conversation in Spanish is more than just memorizing words; it's about knowing which greeting fits the situation. In this lesson, you'll learn the most common greetings and goodbyes used in Latin American Spanish, with clear guidance on when to use each. You'll also practice a natural first interaction, from 'hola' to 'adiós', so you can greet people confidently and appropriately.
By the end, you can…
- greet someone appropriately in Spanish depending on the time of day and context.
- say goodbye in Spanish using common expressions for different situations.
- introduce myself and ask someone's name in a natural first interaction.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¡Hola!
Hello!
OH-lah
The most common, informal greeting. Use it with friends, family, and people your age. It works at any time of day and is never out of place in casual settings.
Buenos días
Good morning
BWEH-nos DEE-as
Used from sunrise until around noon. It's polite and appropriate in both formal and informal situations, like greeting a shopkeeper or a colleague in the morning.
Buenas tardes
Good afternoon
BWEH-nas TAR-des
Used from around noon until sunset (approximately 6-7 PM). It's a safe, polite greeting for most daytime interactions after midday.
Buenas noches
Good evening / Good night
BWEH-nas NO-ches
Used after sunset both as a greeting and as a farewell. When you arrive somewhere at night, it means 'good evening'; when you leave, it means 'good night'.
¿Cómo estás?
How are you? (informal)
KOH-mo es-TAS
Use with friends, family, and peers. It's the standard informal way to ask how someone is doing right after a greeting.
Adiós
Goodbye
ah-DYOHS
The most common way to say goodbye in any situation, formal or informal. It's neutral and widely understood across Latin America.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Greetings in Spanish often follow a simple pattern: a greeting word or phrase, followed by a question about the other person. For example, 'Hola, ¿cómo estás?' (Hello, how are you?) or 'Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?' (Good morning, how are you? - formal). Notice that '¿Cómo estás?' uses the informal 'tú' form, while '¿Cómo está usted?' uses the formal 'usted' form. The response can be 'Bien, gracias' (Fine, thanks) or 'Muy bien, ¿y tú?' (Very well, and you?). This pattern works in almost any first interaction.
When to use it
Choosing the right greeting depends on the time of day and your relationship with the person. Use '¡Hola!' with friends, family, and people your age, regardless of time. For more formal situations—like meeting an older person, a boss, or a stranger—use 'Buenos días' (morning), 'Buenas tardes' (afternoon), or 'Buenas noches' (evening/night). In Latin America, 'Buenas' alone is also common as a quick, informal greeting at any time. For goodbyes, 'Adiós' is universal, but you can also say 'Hasta luego' (See you later) or 'Nos vemos' (See you) when you expect to meet again soon.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¡Hola! Buenos días.
Hello! Good morning.OH-lah BWEH-nos DEE-as¡Buenos días! ¿Cómo estás?
Good morning! How are you?BWEH-nos DEE-as KOH-mo es-TASMuy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?
Very well, thank you. And you?mwee byehn GRAH-syahs ee tooBien, gracias. Me llamo Ana. ¿Cómo te llamas?
Fine, thank you. My name is Ana. What's your name?byehn GRAH-syahs meh YAH-moh AH-nah KOH-mo teh YAH-mahsMe llamo Carlos. Mucho gusto.
My name is Carlos. Nice to meet you.meh YAH-moh KAR-lohs MOO-choh GOOS-tohIgualmente. ¡Hasta luego!
Likewise. See you later!ee-gwahl-MEHN-teh AHS-tah LWEH-gohA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American countries, greetings often include a light cheek kiss or a handshake, depending on the country and the relationship. For example, in Argentina and Uruguay, a single cheek kiss is common between men and women and between women; in Mexico, a handshake is more typical for first meetings. When in doubt, a smile and a verbal greeting are always appropriate. Also, '¿Cómo estás?' is informal; use '¿Cómo está usted?' with older people or in formal contexts to show respect.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Buenas noches' as a greeting only, not realizing it's also used for goodbye.
Try this instead: 'Buenas noches' works for both hello and goodbye at night. For example, when you arrive at a party at 9 PM, you say 'Buenas noches' to greet; when you leave, you say 'Buenas noches' again to say goodbye. If you want to be clear, you can add 'Adiós' when leaving: 'Buenas noches, adiós'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1It's 3 PM and you walk into a small shop. What is the most appropriate greeting?
Show a sample answer
Buenas tardes.
At 3 PM, 'Buenas tardes' is the standard polite greeting. 'Buenos días' is only for the morning, and 'Buenas noches' is for after sunset. '¡Hola!' is also acceptable but less formal; in a shop, 'Buenas tardes' is more customary.
2You're leaving a friend's house in the evening and expect to see them tomorrow. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Hasta luego. / Nos vemos. / Adiós.
All three are correct. 'Hasta luego' and 'Nos vemos' imply you'll see them again soon, while 'Adiós' is more final but still fine. 'Buenas noches' could also be used as a goodbye in the evening.
3How would you ask a new acquaintance (around your age) how they are, using informal Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¿Cómo estás?
'¿Cómo estás?' is the informal 'tú' form, suitable for peers. For someone older or in a formal situation, you'd ask '¿Cómo está usted?'. Both are correct depending on context.
Use '¡Hola!' for casual greetings, time-specific greetings like 'Buenos días' for politeness, and 'Adiós' or 'Hasta luego' for goodbyes. Match the formality to the situation, and you'll navigate first interactions smoothly.
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