Hola, ¿qué tal? How Spaniards really say hello
Published 22 October 2026
Hola is the first Spanish word most people learn, and it works everywhere. But Spaniards rarely stop at hola. What comes after it, and how you answer, is what makes a greeting sound natural.
Hola, ¿qué tal?
Hola, ¿qué tal?
Hi, how's it going?
Pronounced "ola ke tal": the h is silent. It is a greeting, not a real question, so nobody expects details.
Bien, ¿y tú?
Fine, and you?
The standard answer. Short and friendly.
You will also hear a few honest, very Spanish answers:
Aquí estamos.
Hanging in there.
Literally "here we are": not great, not bad.
Tirando.
Getting by.
A shrug in one word. Common among older people and at work.
Buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches
Spaniards use these more than many visitors expect, especially in shops, lifts and waiting rooms. The times follow the Spanish day, which runs late:
- Buenos días - from the morning until lunch, which in Spain is around 2 pm.
- Buenas tardes - from lunch until it gets dark, often until 8 or 9 pm.
- Buenas noches - in the evening and at night, both to say hello and to say goodbye.
Buenas.
Hi.
The all-purpose short form, at any time of day. Perfect when you walk into a shop or a bar.
Among friends
¿Qué pasa?
What's up?
Casual and friendly. It does not mean something is wrong.
¿Qué tal todo?
How's everything?
For when you haven't seen someone for a while.
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
A little more personal than ¿qué tal?. Use it when you really want to know.
Saying goodbye
Hasta luego.
See you.
Said when you leave a shop or a bar, even to people you will never see again. Often shortened to "taluego".
Venga, hasta mañana.
Right, see you tomorrow.
Venga (literally "come on") is how Spaniards wrap up a conversation.
In small towns you may also hear ¡adiós! as a quick hello when people pass each other in the street without stopping.
Two kisses or a handshake?
When you are introduced to someone in a social setting, dos besos is the norm: a light touch of cheeks, one on each side. It is usual between women, and between women and men. Men usually shake hands with each other, though friends and family often hug. In a business setting, a handshake is the safe choice.
Encantado. / Encantada.
Nice to meet you.
Encantado if you are a man, encantada if you are a woman.
Questions people ask
What does "hola, ¿qué tal?" mean?
It means "hi, how's it going?". It is pronounced roughly "ola ke tal", which is why you often see it written ola ke tal online. Answer with bien, ¿y tú?.
Is "buenas" polite?
Yes. Buenas is a friendly short form of buenos días or buenas tardes, and you can use it with anyone, at any time of day.
When do you switch from buenos días to buenas tardes?
After lunch, not at noon. In Spain lunch is around 2 pm, so buenos días is fine all morning and into the early afternoon.
Greetings are the first few seconds of every conversation. To see what usually comes next, read why you freeze when a Spaniard answers, or start with ordering in a Spanish bar.