Ways to Say "Hello" in Spanish

The most common way to say "hello" in Spanish is hola, which works in almost any situation. Spanish also commonly uses time-of-day greetings such as buenos días and buenas tardes, plus casual options like ¿qué tal?

The most common way

A general, friendly "hello" or "hi" used at any time of day.

How to say it: The h is silent: say OH-lah, with a short, open o.

Other ways to say it

formal

"Good morning" — a polite greeting used in the morning.
When to use it: Use it with strangers, staff, older people or anyone you want to greet politely before midday.
formal

"Good afternoon" — a standard polite greeting after midday until evening.
When to use it: Use it in shops, offices or formal settings from around lunchtime until it gets dark.
formal

"Good evening" or "good night" — a greeting after dark, and also a goodbye before bed.
When to use it: Use it when arriving somewhere at night, or when saying goodbye late in the evening.
casual
¿ ?
"How's it going?" — a relaxed hello that also asks how someone is.
When to use it: Use it with friends, classmates or people you already know well.
casual
A shortened, very common "hi" from buenos días, buenas tardes or buenas noches.
When to use it: Use it in passing with neighbours, shop staff or acquaintances when you do not need to be precise about the time of day.

In a conversation

A
, ¿ ?
Good morning, how are you?
B
, . ¿ ?
Very well, thank you. And you?
A
, . ¡ !
Fine, thanks. See you later!

Common mistakes

~~Buenos día~~ → Buenos días
The greeting buenos días is always plural in this fixed form.
~~Buenas días~~ → Buenos días
Días is masculine, so the adjective must be buenos, not buenas.