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Spanish vocabulary · Topic 1 of 10

Greetings & Essentials in Spanish

A hello in Spanish is rarely just hola. People usually add ¿Cómo estás? or ¿Qué tal?, and a stranger gets buenos días. These 100 words and phrases cover greetings, thanks, and the question words that hold a conversation together. Spain's forms are noted when they differ.

Entries
100
Full guides
100

Showing all 100 entries in rank order.

  1. 1Hellointerjectionhola
  2. 2Thank youphrasegraciasgracias is the same for everyone
  3. 3Goodbyeinterjectionadióseveryday: chao / nos vemos
  4. 4Pleaseadverbpor favor
  5. 5Yesinterjectionsí
  6. 6Nointerjectionno
  7. 7Good morningphrasebuenos días
  8. 8Good nightphrasebuenas noches
  9. 9How are you?phrase¿Cómo estás?also: ¿Qué tal?
  10. 10I'm sorryphraselo sientoexcuse me: perdón
  11. 11You're welcomephrasede nada
  12. 12Excuse mephraseperdónto pass by: con permiso
  13. 13Good afternoonphrasebuenas tardes
  14. 14Good eveningphrasebuenas nochesearly evening is still buenas tardes
  15. 15Nice to meet youphrasemucho gusto
  16. 16My name is…phraseme llamo…
  17. 17What's your name?phrase¿Cómo te llamas?
  18. 18I'm fine, thanksphraseestoy bien, gracias
  19. 19See you laterphrasehasta luego
  20. 20See you tomorrowphrasehasta mañana
  21. 21See you soonphrasehasta pronto
  22. 22I love youphrasete quieroromantic/stronger: te amo
  23. 23Thank you very muchphrasemuchas gracias
  24. 24No, thank youphraseno, gracias
  25. 25What?pronoun¿qué?
  26. 26Where?adverb¿dónde?
  27. 27When?adverb¿cuándo?
  28. 28Why?adverb¿por qué?
  29. 29How?adverb¿cómo?
  30. 30Who?pronoun¿quién?
  31. 31How much?phrase¿cuánto?
  32. 32Which?pronoun¿cuál?
  33. 33I don't understandphraseno entiendo
  34. 34Do you speak English?phrase¿Hablas inglés?
  35. 35Can you repeat that, please?phrase¿Puedes repetir, por favor?
  36. 36More slowly, pleasephrasemás despacio, por favor
  37. 37I don't knowphraseno sé
  38. 38How do you say…?phrase¿Cómo se dice…?
  39. 39What does this mean?phrase¿Qué significa esto?
  40. 40I speak a little (Italian, Hindi…)phrasehablo un poco de español
  41. 41Okayinterjectionokayalso: está bien
  42. 42Of coursephraseclaro
  43. 43Maybeadverbtal vez
  44. 44No problemphraseno hay problema
  45. 45Welcome!interjection¡bienvenido/a!
  46. 46Congratulations!interjection¡felicitaciones!ES: ¡enhorabuena!
  47. 47Happy birthday!phrase¡feliz cumpleaños!
  48. 48Good luck!phrase¡buena suerte!
  49. 49Cheers!interjection¡salud!
  50. 50Have a nice dayphraseque tengas un buen día
  51. 51Take carephrasecuídate
  52. 52Where are you from?phrase¿De dónde eres?
  53. 53I'm from…phrasesoy de…
  54. 54How old are you?phrase¿Cuántos años tienes?
  55. 55Ipronounyo
  56. 56Youpronountúplural: ustedes; formal singular: usted
  57. 57Hepronounél
  58. 58Shepronounella
  59. 59Wepronounnosotrosall women: nosotras
  60. 60Theypronounellosall women: ellas
  61. 61Andconjunctiony
  62. 62Orconjunctiono
  63. 63Butconjunctionpero
  64. 64Becauseconjunctionporque
  65. 65Withprepositioncon
  66. 66Withoutprepositionsin
  67. 67Hereadverbaquí
  68. 68Thereadverballínearby: ahí
  69. 69Thispronounestobefore a noun: este/esta
  70. 70Thatpronounesofarther: aquello; before a noun: ese/esa
  71. 71Veryadverbmuy
  72. 72Alsoadverbtambién
  73. 73Onlyadverbsolo
  74. 74Notadverbno
  75. 75Nothingpronounnada
  76. 76Help!interjection¡auxilio!also: ¡ayuda!
  77. 77One moment, pleasephraseun momento, por favor
  78. 78Well done!interjection¡muy bien!
  79. 79Bless you! (after a sneeze)phrase¡salud!
  80. 80Happy New Year!phrase¡feliz año nuevo!
  81. 81Merry Christmas!phrase¡feliz Navidad!
  82. 82Get well soonphraseque te mejores
  83. 83Have a good tripphrasebuen viaje
  84. 84Sweet dreamsphrasedulces sueños
  85. 85Long time no seephrase¡cuánto tiempo!
  86. 86I miss youphrasete extrañoES: te echo de menos
  87. 87Let's go!phrase¡vámonos!
  88. 88Really?adverb¿de verdad?
  89. 89I agreephraseestoy de acuerdo
  90. 90That's rightphraseasí es
  91. 91Come in!phrase¡pasa!
  92. 92What's up?phrase¿qué tal?Mexico: ¿qué onda?
  93. 93It doesn't matterphraseno importa
  94. 94Have fun!phrase¡diviértete!
  95. 95I have a questionphrasetengo una pregunta
  96. 96What happened?phrase¿qué pasó?
  97. 97Don't worryphraseno te preocupes
  98. 98Be careful!phrase¡cuidado!
  99. 99Have a good weekendphrasebuen fin de semana
  100. 100Hurry up!phrase¡apúrate!ES: ¡date prisa!

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Meet someone new at a café in Mexico City

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Greetings & Essentials in other languages

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FAQ

Greetings & Essentials in Spanish: common questions

Should I say hola or buenos días?

Hola works with friends, neighbors, and people your age. Buenos días, buenas tardes, and buenas noches are the safer hello for shop staff, older people, and anyone you don't know.

Is gracias different for men and women?

No. Everyone says gracias. Portuguese changes the ending with the speaker; Spanish does not. If you want to add warmth, say muchas gracias.

How do I answer ¿Cómo estás?

Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? is enough. Nobody expects a long report. With someone you address as usted, switch the pronoun: ¿Y usted?

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