How to greet someone in Spanish? Examples and useful tips
You don’t need to be fluent in Spanish to make a good impression. A warm Spanish greeting goes a long way—whether you’re on holiday in Madrid or meeting a business partner in Mexico. In this blog, we’ll show you the most common Spanish greetings and explain when and how to use them. That way, you’ll start every conversation with confidence.
The basics: how to say hello and goodbye in Spanish
Spaniards are friendly and sociable. A greeting is more than just polite—it’s a chance to connect. Use these expressions with a smile:
| ¡Hola! | Hello |
| ¡Buenos días! | Good morning (until 1 p.m.) |
| ¡Buenas tardes! | Good afternoon (1 to 9 p.m.) |
| ¡Buenas noches! | Good evening (after 9 p.m.) |
| ¡Adiós! | Goodbye |
| ¡Hasta luego! | See you later |
| ¡Hasta pronto! | See you soon |
| ¡Hasta la vista! | Farewell |
| ¡Hasta la próxima! | Until the next time |
| ¡Hasta mañana! | See you tomorrow |
How are you?
You might know ¿Cómo estás? from movies or music. But what do you actually say when meeting someone?
| ¿Cómo está usted? | How are you? (formal) |
| ¿Qué tal? | How’s it going? (informal, safe in most situations) |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? (informal, for people you know) |
Formal or informal? That depends on your relationship with the other person. If you're unsure, start formal—you can always switch to informal later.
Business or written greetings
Spaniards tend to be more formal in emails and letters than Dutch speakers. Starting an email? Choose a suitable opening:
Begroetingen:
| Distinguido Señor … / Distinguida Señora … | Dear Sir / Madam (if name is unknown) |
| Estimado Sr. Pérez / Estimada Sra. Pérez | Dear Mr. / Ms. (with surname) |
| Querido Juan / Querida Carmen
In dit geval worden in het Spaans de voornamen genoemd, geen achternamen. |
Dear (used in informal contact, with first names) |
Afsluitingen:
| Le saluda atentamente, | Yours sincerely |
| Un cordial saludo, | Kind regards (formal) |
| Saludos, | Best regards (informal) |
Tip from the Nuns of Vught: practise out loud
It may seem simple, but many people hesitate to speak Spanish for fear of making mistakes. Try practising these greetings out loud. Use them in a role-play or say them to your reflection in the mirror.
Ready to speak Spanish with confidence?
Whether you’re ordering tapas, heading to a business lunch, or writing a Spanish email—starting with the right greeting makes all the difference. Want to go beyond just hola and adiós? Learn Spanish with the Nuns of Vught and see how fun and effective language learning can be.
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