Spanish Greetings: Common Phrases for Beginners
The first words you say in a new language are almost always greetings, and they are easy to get right. This guide gives you the phrases you will really hear, in the order a conversation moves: hello, how are you, who are you, and goodbye. Each group has audio so you can hear the rhythm.
Quick answer
- Start with the time of day: buenos días (morning), buenas tardes (afternoon), buenas noches (evening and night).
- Ask how someone is: ¿Cómo estás? with friends, ¿Cómo está usted? with someone you address formally.
- Introduce yourself with Me llamo... or Soy..., and finish with Mucho gusto.
Hello, by time of day
Hola works any time and with anyone. For more polish, match the greeting to the time of day. In Mexico, people often shorten these to just buenas when they walk into a shop or an elevator.
| Spanish | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | Any time |
| Buenos días | Good morning | From waking up until about noon |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | From noon until it gets dark |
| Buenas noches | Good evening, good night | After dark, and when going to bed |
Examples
- Hola.Hello.Works with everyone.
- Buenos días.Good morning.Días is masculine plural, so buenos.
- Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.Tardes is feminine plural, so buenas.
- Buenas noches.Good evening, good night.Also feminine: buenas.
How are you?
Use ¿Cómo estás? with friends, family, and people your age or younger. With someone you want to address more formally, use ¿Cómo está usted?. You can find the full difference in tú vs. usted. Notice that these questions use estar, because they ask about a state, as explained in ser vs. estar.
Examples
- ¿Cómo estás?How are you?Informal.
- ¿Cómo está usted?How are you?Formal.
- ¿Qué tal?How is it going?Friendly and casual.
- Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?Very well, thanks. And you?A complete answer.
- Más o menos.So-so.Honest and common.
Introduce yourself
To say your name, use Me llamo... (literally “I call myself”) or the shorter Soy.... To ask someone’s name, say ¿Cómo te llamas? informally or ¿Cómo se llama usted? formally. Finish with Mucho gusto (nice to meet you). A man can say encantado and a woman encantada. The answer is often Igualmente, meaning “likewise.”
Examples
- Me llamo Leo. ¿Cómo te llamas?My name is Leo. What is your name?Informal introduction.
- Mucho gusto.Nice to meet you.Works for everyone.
- Soy de Estados Unidos. ¿De dónde eres?I am from the United States. Where are you from?Soy de + place.
- Encantada, igualmente.Pleased to meet you, likewise.Encantada is said by a woman.
Goodbye and polite phrases
For a goodbye, adiós is correct, but it can sound final. In daily life, people say hasta luego (see you later), hasta mañana (see you tomorrow), or nos vemos (we’ll see each other). The polite words por favor, gracias, de nada, and con permiso (excuse me, when you pass through) will take you far.
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adiós | Goodbye |
| Hasta luego | See you later |
| Hasta mañana | See you tomorrow |
| Nos vemos | See you |
| Por favor | Please |
| De nada | You are welcome |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (to pass by) |
Examples
- Hasta luego, nos vemos mañana.See you later, see you tomorrow.Two common goodbyes together.
- Un café, por favor.A coffee, please.Polite request.
- Muchas gracias. De nada.Thank you very much. You are welcome.The classic pair.
- Con permiso, voy a pasar.Excuse me, I am going to pass.Used to get by someone.
A short conversation and a note on manners
Put the phrases together and you have a complete first meeting. Here is a conversation between two people who have just met at work. They use tú, which is common among colleagues of a similar age.
A quick note about manners: in Mexico, it is polite to greet people when you enter a shop, an office, or a waiting room, even with a simple buenas tardes. Among friends, a handshake or a light kiss on the cheek is a common greeting, and with someone you have just met, a handshake is the safe choice.
Examples
- Hola, buenos días. Me llamo Marta. ¿Y tú?Hello, good morning. My name is Marta. And you?Hello, name, and a question back.
- Soy Daniel. Mucho gusto, Marta.I am Daniel. Nice to meet you, Marta.Name and mucho gusto.
- Igualmente. ¿Cómo estás, Daniel?Likewise. How are you, Daniel?Igualmente, then a question.
- Muy bien, gracias. Bueno, nos vemos más tarde.Very well, thanks. Well, see you later.A natural way to end the chat.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Buenos noches.
Correct: Buenas noches.
Tardes and noches are feminine, so they take buenas.
Incorrect: ¿Cómo eres?
Correct: ¿Cómo estás?
¿Cómo eres? asks what you are like. To ask how someone feels, use estar.
Incorrect: Estoy bueno.
Correct: Estoy bien.
Estoy bueno can sound like “I am attractive.” Use bien to say you are fine.
Incorrect: Yo llamo Ana.
Correct: Me llamo Ana.
Llamarse needs the pronoun me: “I call myself.”
A simple greeting formula
- Greeting + question + name: Hola, ¿cómo estás? Me llamo Leo. Mucho gusto.
- Use buenas with tardes and noches, buenos with días.
- Use tú forms with friends and usted forms when you want to show respect.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘hola’ always okay?
Yes. It is polite with friends, shop assistants, and strangers. Add buenos días or buenas tardes when you want to sound a little more formal.
Do I say ‘buenos días’ after noon?
No. From about noon until it gets dark, use buenas tardes. After dark, use buenas noches.
What does ‘¿Qué onda?’ mean?
It is a very informal Mexican way to say “what’s up?” Use it with friends, not in a formal setting.
What does ‘¿Mande?’ mean in Mexico?
It is a polite way to say “pardon?” or “yes?” when you did not hear someone, or when someone calls you. You will hear it often in Mexico.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Greetings are the first thing you will say in Spanish. Practice them in a short, free session.
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