11. Useful Greetings & Farewells
Source: A Complete Guide To Every Fundamental In Spanish
This chapter covers the most practical Spanish greetings, farewells, and polite phrases — including the literal breakdowns that explain why they're said the way they are.
Key Rules
bienvenido literally = "well-come" (from bien + venido, past participle of venir).
- Time-of-day greetings agree in number:
buenos días (m. pl.), buenas noches (f. pl.).
- For how are you?, use estar because well-being changes over time:
¿Cómo estás? → Estoy bien.
adiós literally means "to God" — historically "go with God" → modern "goodbye."
hasta + (time/event) is the pattern for "see you ___" expressions.
Greetings & Conversation Starters
| Spanish |
Literal / Notes |
Meaning |
| Hola |
— |
Hi / Hello |
| Bienvenido / Bienvenidos |
"well-come" (sing/pl) |
Welcome |
| Buenos días |
"good days" |
Good morning |
| Buenas tardes |
"good afternoons" |
Good afternoon |
| Buenas noches |
"good nights" |
Good evening / Good night |
| ¿Qué pasa? |
what passes/happens |
What's going on? / What's up? |
| ¿Qué está pasando? |
present progressive |
What's happening? |
| ¿Qué tal? |
"what such" |
How are you? / How's it going? |
| ¿Cómo estás (tú)? |
uses estar |
How are you? |
| (Yo) estoy bien. |
uses estar |
I'm well. |
Polite Words
| Spanish |
Meaning |
| Por favor |
Please |
| (Muchas) Gracias |
Thank you (very much) |
| De nada |
You're welcome ("of nothing") |
| Perdón |
Sorry / Pardon me |
Farewells
| Spanish |
Literal |
Meaning |
| Adiós |
"to God" |
Goodbye |
| Chau / Chao |
(from Italian) |
Bye |
| Hasta la vista |
"until the view" |
See you later / Until next time |
| Hasta luego |
"until later" |
See you later |
| Hasta pronto |
"until soon" |
See you soon |
Notes & Gotchas
¿Cómo estás? uses estar (not ser) because mood/well-being is temporary.
buenos días is masculine plural; buenas tardes and buenas noches are feminine plural — match the gender of the noun (día m., tarde/noche f.).
de nada is the standard reply to thanks; literal "of nothing" implies "no need to thank me."
chau/chao is borrowed from Italian ciao and is very informal.
- Use written question marks: opening
¿ and closing ? (and ¡ ... ! for exclamations).