Even if you don’t actually have the intention of learning a language, being able to say hello to someone when you are traveling makes you look good. We all know this? You just need to try not to pronounce it well, so that they don’t mistake you with a native speaker – because we are sure you would rather not have to stand there awkwardly while they talk to you in a language you don’t know. You will learn how to say hello and goodbye at different times of the day, and ask people how they are and what they have been up to. Just as importantly, you will practice some ways to reply when people ask you!
However if you do learn the language, it’s extremely important that you know how to create something in different ways for various occasions. Greetings like “good morning” and “good afternoon” are incredibly important in Spanish. As Latin American culture is more formal, going through the ritual of creating another person is an important way of showing respect. In fact, in some parts of Latin America, we are expected to greet every person individually, even if they are in a group. That means if you are walking along the road in a village and pass a group of five people you will have to say “good morning” five times! This is why today we will discuss the top 10 greetings and Spanish that a beginner should know.
It means “hello” or “hi” in Spanish and, as we’ve already mentioned, this word Is the most common Spanish expression and can be used at all times.
It literally means “good days” and is generally used in the morning, so it’s The equivalent of “good morning” in English. This expression is usually more formal than the simple Hola, but it can also be used in formal contexts.
This phrase translates to good afternoon and it’s commonly used between noon and sunset. Just like Buenos Dias, this expression also tends to be more formal than simple hola.
This one is a little different than in English because it translates to both good evening and good night. This is because, in Spanish, there is no word for an evening so we use the word night for both.
This translates to “how are you”. To be honest, there’s not much we can say about it. Basically, it can be used any time.
This is another commonly used Spanish expression that translates to “how is it going?” It is usually used when you meet a person randomly and want to start up a conversation.
Has it been a long time since you’ve seen someone? Say “hola” and find out where they have been. Be prepared to get the whole day!
It’s considered informal in some countries. Use it with your friends and family. Just remember the rule of the silent “h”.
This word typically means “Thank You”. You must know this word whether you’re planning on traveling to Spain or not. Believe us when we say this, saying thank you to Spaniards in Spanish really help you get along.
Want to welcome someone in your home? The Spanish phrase is pronounced “Bi en ße ni dos.”. Keep the final “s” if you are welcoming more than one person.
These are some common greeting words that a beginner must know. Even if you’re not planning on learning Spanish, knowing common expressions in a couple of languages goes a long way.
Keep learning!
