Learn Spanish Online | Learning Basic Spanish Greetings

Learn How To Speak Spanish

Who Else Wants to Learn to
Speak Spanish Confidently
and Naturally in less than 3 months?

... AND take all the frustration, difficulty and headache out of YOUR practice time with this EXPLOSIVE interactive Spanish learning package!

For Your FREE 6-Day Spanish E-Course


Click Here

Learning Basic Spanish Greetings

Posted on July 28, 2009
Filed Under Learn Spanish CD, Learn Spanish Online | Leave a Comment

Learning Spanish can be very beneficial and fun today if you live in the United States.

Learning Spanish generally starts with Spanish greeting phrases or words.

The single word “Hola” (the “H” is not pronounced) in Spanish is the same as the English word “Hello” and is uncluttered by any complex syntax.

When first meeting either a stranger or an acquaintance, “Hola” is an appropriate greeting. (When answering the phone, however, Spanish speakers will probably say “bueno” or “diga” in place of “Hola.”)

After initially greeting someone, you will subsequently separate and the Spanish equivalent of “goodbye” is “adios.”

Unlike English which has only one form, Spanish and other Romance languages (French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, and French) have two forms of verbs used when addressing or referring to people.  These two forms are generally known as informal and formal forms. The informal form is normally used for addressing relatives, friends, younger persons, or persons of lower position or status.  The formal form is normally used for strangers, older people who are not close friends or relatives and for people of higher position or status. 

When inquiring as to how someone is, such as “How are you?”, “Como estas?” (informal) or “Como esta?” (formal) is the Spanish version of the same thing. Or you can use “que tal” or ”Que passa?” (What’s happening?) or “Como se va?” (formal) or “Como te vas?” (informal) for “How is it going?” or literally “How’s it going with you?”

When saying “Good afternoon” “Buenas tardes” is the Spanish phrase. If you want to say “Good morning, Good day, etc” “Buenos dias” is the same thing in Spanish.
“Good night” is “Buenos noches.”

Should you inquire as to someone’s name you would ask, “Como te llamas?” (informal) or “Como se llama?” (formal).

While these simple words and phrases form the basics of Spanish greetings, you will learn more complex forms as you further develop your Spanish speaking skills.  Nevertheless, these phrases will be important in getting started.

Frequent use of these commonly used Spanish words and phrases will help develop your comfort zone as you develop your language skills further.

Leave a Reply