👋 Greetings - Saludos

Lesson 01 · Greetings & farewells

Spanish Greetings & Farewells

The h in hola is silent. You don’t have to be. Start with a hello, add a little back-and-forth, and learn how to end on a friendly note.

Your first small win: greet someone, ask how they are, and end the conversation.

01 / Make an entrance

Basic Greetings

Hola does a lot of work for four letters. Use it to say hello, whatever the time of day. Meeting someone for the first time? Add mucho gusto.

Hola.Hello. / Hi.
Mucho gusto.Nice to meet you.Use when you are introduced to someone.

A quiet little detail: the h in hola is silent. Tap the speaker, listen, then say it aloud.

Your turn

You’ve just been introduced to a new classmate. Say “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

02 / A little back-and-forth

Asking How Someone Is

You’ve opened the conversation. Now give it somewhere to go: ask how the other person is, answer, and send the question back.

¿Cómo estás?How are you?Informal: when you address someone as tú.
Muy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
¿Y tú?And you?Informal: return the question.
Bien, gracias.Well, thank you.

Pass the question back

A friend asks “¿Cómo estás?” You’re doing very well. Answer, then ask about them.

A little more formal: tú and usted

Tú is an informal way to address one person. Usted is often used to show respect or formality. Both mean “you,” but they use different verb forms.

¿Cómo está usted?How are you?Formal usted form.
¿Y usted?And you?Return the question using usted.

Keep it flexible: usage varies by country, community, and relationship. You may also hear vos in some regions. For this lesson, practice the tú and usted forms above; you don’t need every regional pattern yet.

03 / Make your exit

Common Farewells

Every conversation needs an exit line. Start with hasta luego, a useful everyday goodbye. If you’ll see someone tomorrow, say hasta mañana.

Hasta luego.See you later.Also used as a general goodbye; no appointment required.
Hasta mañana.See you tomorrow.

A goodbye with a date

You’ll see your friend tomorrow. Say “See you tomorrow” in Spanish.

Put it together

A Simple Conversation

You already have the pieces. Listen to each line, then read the conversation aloud. Try both parts.

Two friends cross paths

A
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?Hi! How are you?
B
Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?Very well, thank you. And you?
A
Bien, gracias. ¡Hasta luego!Well, thank you. See you later!
B
¡Hasta luego!See you later!

Expand when you’re ready

More Useful Expressions

The phrases above are enough for your first exchange. Open these groups when you want more ways to say it.

Greetings that watch the clock

A timely hello: choose a greeting for the part of the day.

Buenos días.Good morning.
Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.
Buenas noches.Good evening. / Good night.Use as an evening greeting or a nighttime farewell.

The change from one greeting to another depends on local custom. Buenas tardes can extend into the early evening.

Meeting someone and seeing them again

First introductions and familiar faces call for different lines.

Encantado.Pleased to meet you.Typically used by a male speaker.
Encantada.Pleased to meet you.Typically used by a female speaker.
Igualmente.Likewise. / You too.A reply to “Mucho gusto.”
¡Cuánto tiempo!Long time no see!
¡Qué gusto verte!It’s great to see you!Informal, to one person.

One less choice: mucho gusto works without changing its ending.

More ways to check in
¿Cómo va todo?How’s everything going?
Todo bien, gracias.All good, thanks.
Estoy bien.I’m well.
Más o menos.So-so.For when you’re somewhere in the middle.
Goodbyes worth keeping
Adiós.Goodbye.
Nos vemos.See you.
Hasta pronto.See you soon.
Cuídate.Take care.Informal, to one person.

A hello has body language, too. Waves, handshakes, hugs, and cheek kisses vary by place and relationship. A friendly spoken greeting is a fine start. Let the situation and your comfort guide any physical greeting.

Your turn / 8 quick questions

Practice: Greetings & Farewells

Choose the expression for each moment. These questions use the main lesson phrases. No timer, no rush. Say your answer aloud before you tap.