AnnaSaysHola - Spanish Lessons with Anna

Greetings are an essential part of Spanish culture and are often more elaborate than in English. Learning these basic phrases will help you make a good impression and start conversations confidently.

Common Greetings

Spanish	English	Usage
¡Hola!	Hello!	Informal, can be used any time of day
Buenos días	Good morning	Used until noon
Buenas tardes	Good afternoon	Used from noon until sunset
Buenas noches	Good evening/night	Used after sunset and when saying goodbye at night
¿Cómo estás?	How are you?	Informal, for friends and family
¿Cómo está usted?	How are you?	Formal, for strangers and elders
Mucho gusto	Nice to meet you	When meeting someone for the first time
Encantado/a	Delighted (to meet you)	When meeting someone (masculine/feminine forms)

Introducing Yourself

After greeting someone, you'll often want to introduce yourself. Here are some useful phrases: • Me llamo... (My name is...) • Soy... (I am...) • ¿Cómo te llamas? (What's your name? - informal) • ¿Cómo se llama usted? (What's your name? - formal)

Cultural Notes

In Spanish-speaking countries, greetings often include physical contact. A handshake is common in formal situations, while friends might greet each other with a kiss on the cheek (one in Spain, two in some Latin American countries). During the conversation, Spanish speakers tend to stand closer to each other than what might be comfortable in other cultures.