Use hola when you want to say hello or hi in a casual, friendly way.
Use hola when you want to say hello or hi in a casual, friendly way.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Yo hola a mis amigos. | Yo digo hola a mis amigos. |
| Hola señor. | Hola, señor. |
| Nos vemos, hola. | Nos vemos, adiós. |
| ¿Hola? | ¿Cómo estás? |
Use hola to call out to a crowd or to cheer someone on, especially in informal Latin American settings.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Hola, ¿puedes pasarme la sal? | ¡Oye, puedes pasarme la sal? |
| Dije hola en la presentación formal. | Dije buenas tardes en la presentación formal. |
| El entrenador gritó hola para animar al equipo. | El entrenador gritó ¡Vamos! para animar al equipo. |
| Cuando llamé, dije hola en vez de atención. | Cuando llamé, dije atención. |
Use context to choose the sense, greeting for hello and the shout form for attracting attention.
Using hola in formal letters is a mistake, it sounds too casual.
From Old Spanish hola, an interjection of uncertain origin recorded from the 15th century.
What does hola mean?
Hola means “hello” or “hi”, a common Spanish greeting.
Can I use hola in a formal letter?
It is best to avoid hola in formal letters; use “buenos días” or a similar salutation instead.
Does hola ever mean something other than a greeting?
Yes, in informal contexts hola can be an exclamation used to attract attention or to cheer someone on.
Is hola ever used as a noun?
In standard Spanish hola functions only as an interjection, not as a noun.
What is the origin of hola?
Hola comes from an Old Spanish interjection of uncertain origin, first recorded in the 15th century.
How is hola pronounced?
Hola is pronounced /ˈola/.
What are common mistakes when saying hola?
Common errors include using hola in formal contexts, omitting the comma before a name, or confusing it with a farewell like adiós.
Are there regional variations of hola?
In many Latin American countries hola also serves as a shout to get attention, while in Spain it is mainly a greeting.