Everyday greetings in Spanish, including common phrases for different times of day and everyday situations.
Everyday greetings are essential for starting conversations and being polite in any language. In Spanish, greetings vary depending on the time of day and the level of formality. Below are some of the most common greetings you’ll encounter in daily life.
- Hola = Hello
- Buenos días = Good morning
- Buenas tardes = Good afternoon
- Buenas noches = Good evening / Good night
- ¿Qué tal? = How’s it going?
- ¿Cómo estás? = How are you?
- ¿Qué pasa? = What’s up?
- Mucho gusto = Nice to meet you
- Bienvenido/a = Welcome
- Hasta luego = See you later
In Spanish, there are specific greetings for morning, afternoon, and evening. Using the correct greeting shows cultural awareness.
- Buenos días — Used from early morning until around noon.
- Buenas tardes — Used from noon until sunset.
- Buenas noches — Used in the evening and also as a way to say goodnight.
These greetings are used to start a conversation or check in on someone’s well-being.
- Hola — A simple, universal “hello.”
- ¿Qué tal? — Informal way to ask “How’s it going?”
- ¿Cómo estás? — More direct, means “How are you?”
- ¿Qué pasa? — Slang for “What’s up?”
When meeting someone new, these phrases will help you introduce yourself and exchange pleasantries.
- Mucho gusto — “Nice to meet you.”
- Encantado/a — Another way to say “Pleased to meet you.”
- ¿Cómo te llamas? — “What’s your name?”
- Me llamo... — “My name is...”
These are common ways to end a conversation or say farewell.
- Adiós — Goodbye
- Hasta luego — See you later
- Nos vemos — See you
- Que tengas un buen día — Have a good day
Adding these phrases can make your greetings more polite and friendly.
- Por favor — Please
- Gracias — Thank you
- De nada — You’re welcome
- Perdón — Excuse me / Sorry
Using these everyday greetings will help you navigate social interactions in Spanish with confidence and courtesy.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
