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Spanish / Unit 1: Hola / lesson 1

Hello and goodbye

Your first Spanish words: how to say hello at any time of day, and how to say goodbye. Press Play on each player and say every word out loud.

Hola

Hello

hola: the h is silent

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Good morning, good afternoon, good evening

Spanish also greets by the time of day. These are a little warmer and more polite than hola alone, and many people say both: Hola, buenos días.

The time of day, with Pedro

Morning

until about lunch time

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WhenSpanishEnglish
any timeHolaHello, hi
morning, until lunchBuenos díasGood morning
afternoon, until darkBuenas tardesGood afternoon
evening and nightBuenas nochesGood evening; good night
Note.

Buenos ends in -os and buenas in -as, because días is a masculine word and tardes and noches are feminine. You will meet this again soon; for now, learn them as they are.

Goodbye

Saying goodbye, with Lupe

Goodbye

adiós

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SpanishEnglish
AdiósGoodbye
Hasta luegoSee you later
Hasta mañanaSee you tomorrow
Nos vemosSee you (friendly)

Practice

Listen: question 1

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What did Pedro say?

Hint
Tardes is the afternoon.
Solution

Pedro said Buenas tardes, good afternoon.

Listen: question 2

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What did Lupe say?

Hint
Mañana is a day away.
Solution

Lupe said Hasta mañana, see you tomorrow.

Question

It is 9 in the morning. You walk into a shop. What do you say?

Hint
Morning, until about lunch time.
Solution

Buenos días (or Hola, buenos días).

Question

You leave a friend's house at 11 at night. What do you say?

Hint
One phrase works for arriving and for leaving at night.
Solution

Buenas noches: good night.

Question

Which one is a goodbye?

Hint
Hasta means until.
Solution

Hasta luego, see you later. The other two are greetings.

Note.

Next: saying your name, and asking someone theirs.