How do u say hey in spanish

Spanish remains to be one of the commonly used languages in the world next to English. In fact, it is not just spoken in Spain alone. With this being said, the internet is seeing a massive surge in those interested in Spanish learning and translating common words. To help you get started, we are sending your way a quick list of how to say hi in Spanish, so that you can use it confidently next time.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you heard the name Spain? You see, just like English, Spanish is so unique and powerful that it is spoken by almost 20 countries in the world. It has also massively helped in shaping some of the languages today like Chavacano for the Philippines, Palenquero in Bolivia, and Papiamentu of Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire.

How Do You Say Hi In Spanish?

With governments around the world issuing lockdowns among countries and borders, we bet that most of you are spending more time communicating with friends and establishing a connection with other people from across the world. In fact, it has been reported that the COVID-19 phenomenon has resulted in a striking increase in the number of social media users, chat engagements with other mobile apps, and a surge in multiplayer gaming.

And if you have been part of that social media or gaming train, then we bet that you have come across some Spanish-speaking people too! Perhaps, this is the reason why you landed on this page! You probably want to know how to strike up a conversation in the most native way. This is why we are sending your way the easiest ways to say hola and other conversation starters that you can use.

Also, if you are interested in creating a more professional discourse, you might simply want to take note of our list below so that you can have an idea of how to greet people at the appropriate times of the day or by sparking interest through inquiries. With this being said, we have included in the table below some of the most common greetings as well.

Spanish Greetings English Context
Hola (direct translation) Hi or Hello This is the most common and versatile Spanish word in the way that you can use it any time of the day and in both formal (along with a firm handshake) and informal (with an air kiss) interactions.
Holi Holis Hi or Hello You can use the following variations when speaking informally since it is perceived as a “cute” way to spark conversation.
Oye Hey This is considered as a Spanish slang usually used in Latin America that is very informal and can be used only when speaking with close friends and family.
¿Diga? ¿Si? ¿Dígame? ¿Aló? Hello You can only use these three expressions when answering the phone. As a reminder, do note that it is a question, thus, the tone must be slightly raised.  The first word is very formal and is usually used in answering office phones. The second one means "yes" and is considered a simple yet informal way of answering a call. The third word can be directly translated to “tell me?” in English and is also considered informal. The last word is one of the most common and modern ways of answering the phone.
Buenos días Good morning or good day Formal Spanish greeting which is usually used from the early hours of the day until midday- basically it is like you must only use it at around 1 am to 12 pm.
Buenas tardes Good afternoon Formal Spanish greeting which is usually used when the sun begins its descent- around 1 pm to 3 pm.
Buenas noches Good evening Formal Spanish greetings are usually used when the sun is finally setting.
¿Cómo está? How are you? Formal Spanish greeting which is deemed as a great conversation starter between colleagues.
¿Cómo estás? How are you? Informal Spanish greeting is perceived as a useful opening line for conversations with strangers.
¿Qué tal? How is it going? Informal Spanish greeting which is usually used among people you are close with.
¿Qué hubo? What happened? Informal Spanish greeting which is also usually used among people you are close with.
¿De dónde eres? Where are you from? This is another versatile question that can be used in formal and informal contexts.
¿Cómo te llamas? What is your name? Meeting a person for the very first time? You can use this flexible question which can be used in formal and informal contexts.

Failproof Ways To Respond In Spanish

How do u say hey in spanish

Now that you know the most basic (and native) ways to sound like a local when striking up a conversation, we believe that you also know how to respond as well as end a conversation too, right? I mean, come to think of it… it may look rude if you just say hi and then smile blankly because you do not know other Spanish phrases!

Since we do not want you to worry about this stressful situation, we have also comprehensively compiled some of the common responses below if ever someone starts with a question like ¿Qué tal? or end a conversation. Make sure to browse this list from time to time and practice it so that it may roll off your tongue even more naturally.

Spanish English Translation Sound
Hola Hi or hello
Bien, ¿y tú? I am good, and you?
Muy bien, gracias! Very well, thank you!
Más o menos Así así So-so
Mal/Fatal Bad
No muy bien Not doing very well!
No tan bien Not so good!
¡Hasta luego! See you later!
¡Hasta pronto! See you soon!
¡Hasta mañana! See you tomorrow!

As I end this article, I hope that I was able to shed light and give you the quickest ways how to express the basic hi in Spanish. Interested to dive further into it? Why not try reading another blog post about days of the week in the Spanish language to give you a more powerful set of vocabulary in this language?

For more language lessons and tips in Spanish and other foreign languages, I definitely recommend that you sign-up with Ling App. Ling App is one of the best learning platforms out there which can significantly help you in your learning goals- from bite-sized lessons to games and quizzes, the Ling App has it all.

Learn Spanish In 10 Minutes!

Did you know that you can master any language in the world as long as you practice at least 10 minutes a day? Don't stop with just learning how to say hi in Spanish, make the most out of your spare time by reviewing the basic vocabs, grammatical structures, and even speaking patterns with the help of a dedicated language platform like the Ling App.

How do u say hey in spanish

Unlike other languages, Spanish remains one of the classiest and most flexible languages globally. It is the second most spoken native language, and it has even influenced other languages! With this being said, language enthusiasts are consistently challenging themselves to explore it to better appreciate the history behind every line, letter, and syllable.

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