15 Other Ways to Say Hello in Spanish

Are you looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary beyond the standard “hola“? Knowing how to say hello in different ways can help you connect with Spanish speakers on a deeper level and show your appreciation for their culture. In this article, I will introduce you to 15 other ways to say hello in Spanish, from formal to informal and everything in between.

Learning Spanish greetings is an essential part of any language learning journey. Whether you’re traveling to a Spanish-speaking country or simply want to communicate with Spanish speakers in your community, knowing how to say hello in Spanish can help you break down language barriers and form meaningful connections. In addition to the standard “hola,” there are many other ways to greet someone in Spanish depending on the context and level of formality.

So, if you’re ready to expand your Spanish vocabulary and take your language skills to the next level, keep reading to discover 15 other ways to say hello in Spanish. From “buenos días” to “¿qué tal?“, we’ve got you covered with a variety of greetings that will help you connect with Spanish speakers and show off your language skills.

15 Alternative Ways to Hola in Spanish

If you’re looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary beyond “hola,” you’re in luck! There are many other ways to greet someone in Spanish, depending on the time of day, formality, and context. Here are 15 alternative ways to say hello in Spanish:

Buenos días – Good morning
Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
Buenas noches – Good evening/night
¿Qué tal? – How do you do?
¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (informal)
¿Cómo está usted? – How are you? (formal)
¿Qué pasa? – What’s happening?/What’s up?
Hola, ¿qué tal? – Hello, how do you do?
¡Saludos! – Greetings!
¿Cómo va? – How is it going?
¿Qué hubo? – What happened?/What’s up?
¡Hola, amigo/a! – Hello, friend!
¡Hola, chicos/as! – Hello, guys/girls!
¿Qué hacés? – How are you? (very informal)
¿Qué onda? – What’s up?

If you want to be more formal, you can use “¿cómo está?” instead of “¿cómo estás?” This is a more respectful way to address someone, especially if you don’t know them well or if they are older than you.

Informal and Casual Ways to Say Hello

When it comes to informal and casual greetings in Spanish, there are many options to choose from depending on the situation and the level of familiarity with the person you are addressing. Here are some of the most common and widely used informal and casual ways to say hello in Spanish.

One of the most popular and widely used informal greetings in Spanish is “hola“. This simple greeting can be used in almost any situation and is appropriate for both friends and acquaintances. Another common greeting is “ey / hey“, which is similar to the English “hey” and is often used between friends.

If you want to sound more playful and casual, you can use some of the slang and playful salutations that are common in Spanish. For example, “¿qué tal?” is a common greeting that means “how’s it going?”, while “¿qué pasa?” is another informal greeting that means “what’s happening?”. “Aló” is a playful greeting that is similar to the English “hello”, and “¿qué onda?” is a slang greeting that means “what’s up?” or “what’s going on?”.

Greetings for Phone Conversations in Spanish

When answering the phone in Spanish, you can say “aló“, “diga“, “¿aló?“, “dígame“, or “¿sí?” to greet the caller. These are all common ways to answer the phone and say hello.

You can use “¿bueno?” to greet the person on the other end of the line. This is a common way to say hello on the phone in Mexico.

When ending a phone conversation, you can use “adiós“, “hasta luego“, “hasta mañana“, or “chau” to say goodbye. “Nos vemos” is also a common way to say “see you later” on the phone.