Spanish basics · Learning guide

Spanish greetings you can use

Start with flexible expressions and pay attention to the relationship and setting.

Open a conversation

Hola is a common general greeting. Buenos días is used in the morning; buenas tardes later in the day. Local usage and the transition to evening vary.

Be polite

Por favor means please and gracias means thank you. De nada is a common response to thanks. Practise these as short phrases rather than isolated translations.

Choose your register

Tú is informal singular you in many varieties; usted is a more formal form. Usage differs by region, age and relationship, so follow the speaker’s cues.

Practise

Say Hola, buenos días. Then ask ¿Cómo estás? in an informal setting. Listen to fluent speakers to learn pronunciation and natural rhythm.

Further reading: Reference source ↗. Written for this starter collection. Check primary references for specialised use.