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Greetings in Spanish are pretty much alike many other languages, including English. Usually people will always say they’re fine if you are not well acquainted, even if they’re not ok. It is almost a cliché to start a conversation with anyone.

When using greetings in Spanish it is important to pay attention to forms (formal/ informal) and gender for some expressions (masculine/ feminine). Formal phrases are used with strangers, in places or situations that are naturally formal (at government bodies, speaking with clients, etc) and with older people. If you’re not sure when to use a formal or informal expression, just use the formal one. Sometimes people will tell you that you don’t have to be formal. For this purpose, in Spanish language there is the verb “tutear“, that has no translation in English. “Tutear” means to use the informal way when speaking with the other person, with the pronouns in the second person: “tú” (singular) and “vosotros” (plural). They might say “Puedes tutearme”, meaning “You can treat me informally”. If you feel that it is appropriate, you also can ask the other person “¿Le puedo tutear?”. Rarely they’ll say no, and probably you’ll hear “Por supuesto” (“of course”), or “¡claro!” (sure!).

Spain is a country that receives millions of tourists a year, so we’ve also included a few phrases just in case they ask you where you’re from (very usual), but it will be covered in deep in another lesson.

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Lesson Example: greetings

A dialogue with typical greetings:

• Hola, ¿qué tal?
• Bien, ¿y tú?
• Muy bien
• Me alegro
• (…)
• Bueno, me tengo que ir
• De acuerdo. Nos vemos.
• ¡Hasta luego!
• ¡ Adiós !

Video: Greetings in Spanish

Hasta luego, hasta pronto, hasta la vista, adiós

“Hasta pronto” means literally “see you soon”. You say it when you expect to see the other person in a short period of time, usually defined (for example, if you’ll meet again later in the day).

“Hasta la vista” means “so long”, and it’s used when you don’t know when you will meet the other person again.

The difference between “hasta luego” and “adiós” is less clear. Both refer to a short lack of time until the next meeting, but some people think that “hasta luego” is more polite. However, in Spain is very common to alternate both when leaving: if you say “hasta luego” the other will say “adiós” and vice-versa. It’s just a habit.

As you’ll see in future lessons, being polite in Spanish it’s many times not a matter of the words you say, but HOW you say them. A kind a sweet “adiós” will always sound more polite than a rude “hasta luego”.

¡Hasta pronto!