Learning how to speak Spanish can be both fun and rewarding.

Normally, when you first start learning Spanish, your first word will be a greeting. After all, if you do not even know how to say “hello” what will you do when you meet someone?

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

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

Whenever you meet someone, you will also have to end up saying “goodbye” them and the Spanish word for “goodbye” is “adios.”

The Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian) generally have two forms of verbs for addressing people.  There are what is usually referred to as the formal form (generally used when addressing strangers, older people (who are not relatives or close friends) or people of higher status or position and the informal form normally used when addressing relatives, friends, younger people or people of lower position. 

After the initial greeting, one usually says something such as “How are you?”  A Spanish speaker would say, “Como esta?” (formal) or “Como estas?” (informal), or perhaps “Que passa?” (What’s happening?”), “Como se va?” (formal) or “Como te vas?” (informal) for “How is it going with you?”.

“Good morning” is “Buenos dias” in Spanish while “Good afternoon” is Buenas tardes” and “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).

These greeting words and phrases provide the very basics of Spanish greetings.  As you continue to learn Spanish, you will learn harder and more complex phrases, but these will go along way in starting your ability to speak Spanish.

Simple every day expressions such as these greetings are some of the most frequently used in Spanish and frequent use will help build your comfort with the language.

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