How to Say Hi in Spanish: 20+ Greetings That Sound Natural

Saying hi in Spanish is more than translating 'hello' into hola. Spanish has a greeting for every time of day, every level of formality, and almost every country. Pick the wrong one and you can sound too stiff, too casual, or just out of place. This guide breaks down how to say hi in Spanish the way native speakers actually do it — from Buenos días to ¿Qué onda? — with the context that tells you when each one fits.

The universal Spanish greeting: Hola

Hola is the safest, most common way to say hi in Spanish. It works in every Spanish-speaking country, at any time of day, and with strangers, friends, coworkers, and family. If you only learn one greeting, learn this one.

Hola is pronounced OH-lah. It has no strong formal or informal marker, so it lands politely in almost every context. Use it when you walk into a shop, answer the phone, or start a conversation with someone you don't know well.

Time-of-day greetings in Spanish

Spanish speakers greet by time of day more often than English speakers do. These are the standard polite options:

Buenos días — Good morning (used until around noon or early afternoon).
Buenas tardes — Good afternoon (roughly noon until evening).
Buenas noches — Good evening / good night (used after sunset).

Casual ways to say hi in Spanish

With friends, classmates, or people your own age, these sound natural and relaxed:

¿Qué tal? — What's up? / How's it going? (universal).
¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (informal).
¿Qué pasa? — What's going on? (Spain and Latin America).
¿Qué onda? — What's up? (very Mexican).
¿Cómo andas? — How's it going? (Argentina, Uruguay).
¿Qué hay? — What's up? (Colombia, informal).

Formal greetings in Spanish

Use these with bosses, older people, professionals, or anyone you want to show respect to:

Buenos días / tardes / noches — with usted, these become formal greetings.
Mucho gusto — Nice to meet you (after an introduction).
Encantado / Encantada — Pleased to meet you.
¿Cómo está usted? — How are you? (formal).
¿En qué puedo ayudarle? — How can I help you? (service context).

Regional Spanish greetings you will hear

Every country adds its own flavor. These are the most common regional ways to say hi in Spanish:

Mexico: ¿Qué onda? güey — What's up, dude?
Argentina: ¿Che, cómo andás? — Hey, how's it going?
Spain: ¿Qué tal, tío/a? — What's up, dude/girl?
Colombia: ¿Qué más, parcero? — What's up, buddy?
Puerto Rico / Caribbean: ¡Wepa! — An excited 'hey!' or 'yay!'
Chile: ¿Cómo estai? — How are you? (colloquial contraction).

When to use each greeting

The right greeting depends on three things: time of day, relationship, and country. In a business email, stick to Buenos días or Estimado/a. At a party in Mexico, ¿Qué onda? is perfect. In Spain, ¿Qué tal? covers most informal situations. When in doubt, hola + a smile never fails.

Frequently asked questions

Is hola formal or informal?

Hola is neutral. It works in both formal and informal situations, which is why it's the most common greeting in Spanish.

How do you say hi in Spanish to a friend?

Use ¿Qué tal?, ¿Cómo estás?, or a regional option like ¿Qué onda? in Mexico or ¿Che, cómo andás? in Argentina.

What is the Spanish greeting for good morning?

Buenos días means 'good morning'. It stays polite until early afternoon, when buenas tardes takes over.

Can you say buenas noches as a greeting?

Yes. Buenas noches works both as a greeting ('good evening') and as a goodbye ('good night') after sunset.