Greetings & Introductions
The short answer
The most common Spanish greetings are hola (hello), buenos días (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon), and buenas noches (good evening or goodnight). To introduce yourself, say "Me llamo [name]" (My name is [name]) or "Soy [name]" (I am [name]). To ask someone's name informally say "¿Cómo te llamas?" — formally, use "¿Cómo se llama usted?"
Greetings and introductions are the foundation of every conversation in Spanish. Getting them right — and knowing when to use tú versus usted — immediately signals cultural awareness and sets the tone for the interaction.
What you'll practise
10 practice scenes · CEFR A1 · Beginner
Key phrases
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?
Hello! How are you?
Informal greeting
Buenos días. ¿Cómo está usted?
Good morning. How are you?
Formal greeting
Me llamo Carlos. ¿Y tú?
My name is Carlos. And you?
Introducing yourself and inviting a response
Mucho gusto en conocerte.
Nice to meet you.
Informal — on first meeting
Encantado/a de conocerle.
Delighted to meet you.
Formal — on first meeting
Common questions
What is the most common way to say hello in Spanish?
The most universal greeting is "hola" — used in all Spanish-speaking countries in any context. Time-specific alternatives are "buenos días" (good morning, until midday), "buenas tardes" (good afternoon, midday to evening), and "buenas noches" (good evening or goodnight). "Buenas" alone is an informal shorthand accepted at any time of day.
How do I ask someone's name and give my own in Spanish?
To give your name, say "Me llamo [name]" (My name is [name], literally "I call myself") or "Soy [name]" (I am [name]). To ask informally, say "¿Cómo te llamas?" To ask formally, say "¿Cómo se llama usted?" Both mean "What is your name?" but differ in register.
How do I ask how someone is doing in Spanish?
The most common question is "¿Cómo estás?" (informal) or "¿Cómo está usted?" (formal). Responses include: "Muy bien, gracias" (Very well, thanks), "Bien, ¿y tú?" (Good, and you?), "Regular" (So-so), and "Más o menos" (More or less). "¿Qué tal?" is a casual alternative meaning "How's it going?"
What is the difference between tú and usted when greeting someone?
Tú is the informal singular "you" used with friends, family, peers, and children. Usted is the formal singular "you" used with strangers, older people, authority figures, and in professional settings. In Latin America, usted is more widely used in everyday situations than in Spain. When in doubt, start formal and switch to tú if invited.
How do I introduce a third person to someone else in Spanish?
Use "Te presento a [name]" (informal) or "Le presento a [name]" (formal). Add context: "Es mi amigo/a" (This is my friend) or "Es mi colega" (This is my colleague). The other person typically responds "Encantado/a" (Pleased to meet you) or "Mucho gusto" (Nice to meet you).
Related vocabulary topics
Grammar that supports this vocabulary
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