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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).