Spanish/Español English Trans. Notes Hola Hello, hi   Hola, aló, jaló, bueno, al, diga Hello (on the telephone) The choice of telephone greeting varies with location. Buenos días Good day, good morning In some areas, a shortened form, buen día, is used. Buenas tardes Good afternoon Buenas tardes also should be used in the early evening in preference to buenas noches. Buenas noches Good night Buenas noches can be used as a greeting as well as a farewell. Que te duermas con los angelitos. Good night (lit. May you sep with the angels) Generally considered the most polite/poetic way to say ‘Good night’. Adiós Goodbye From ‘Vaya hacia Dios’, lit - Go towards God.

Sale, pues (slang) Goodbye Que te vaya bien. (inf) Bye (May it go well for you). Que le vaya bien. (frm) Hasta la vista. Bye; Until we meet again. (lit. Until the view). Not really used except by non-Spanish speakers speaking Spanish, and the Terminator. Hasta luego. Bye; Until later. Very common. Hasta la próxima vez. Bye; Until next time. Hasta pronto. (slang) Bye (lit.-Until soon) Generally considered a ‘player phrase’ ¿Cómo estás? (Inf) ¿Cómo está, Usted? (frm) How are you?  

Si fuera mejor, tendría que ser (yo) gemelos(as). If I were any better, I’d have to be twins. Don’t really say this. This is just a literal translation of a silly English expression. Muy bien, gracias Very well, thank you   Mas o menos OK (more or less) Muy mal Very bad(ly) No muy bien Not very well ¿Cómo te va? ¿Cómo le va?1 ¿Qué hay de nuevo? How's it going? What's new? Mexican slang. ¿Qué pasa? What's happening?

¿Qué te pasa? What's wrong (with you)?   ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf) ¿Cómo se llama usted? (frm) What's your name? A literal translation would be "What do you call yourself?" or, somewhat less literally, "What are you called?" Me llamo Chris. My name is Chris. A literal translation would be "I call myself Chris" or, somewhat less literally, "I am called Chris." Mi nombre es… My name is… Less common, but still valid Mucho gusto. Encantado. It's a pleasure to meet you. These literally mean "much pleasure" and "delighted," respectively, so they would have different meanings in other contexts. Gracias, e igualmente. (some what formal) Thank you, and the same to you (lit. equally). Often messed up by many non-native speakers. This phrase, when said correctly, will unlock many doors.

Bienvenido, bienvenida, bienvenidos, bienvenidas Welcome  Welcome in the sense of “Welcome to Ohio” or you are welcome here. De nada You’re welcome (lit- of nothing) Perhaps the most common response to ‘gracias’ No hay de que. You’re welcome (lit- there is none of that). ¿Dónde vives? (inf) ¿Dónde vive Ud.? (frm) Where do you live? ¿Cúal es tu dirección? (inf) ¿Cúal es su dirección (de email)? (frm) What is your (email) address? ¿Cúal es tu teléfono? (inf) ¿Cúal es su teléfono? (frm) What is your telephone (number)? ‘Telefono’ means both the physical telephone, as well as telephone number.

¿Tienes niños(as)? (inf) ¿Tiene Ud. niños(as)? (inf) Do you have any children/sons (daughters)? Niños can mean children in general, or more literally, sons. Ninãs always means daughters. ¿Cuántos años tienes? How old are you (lit- how many years do you have)? ¿Qué edad tienes? How old are you (lit – what age do you have? ¿Qué te gusta hacer? (inf) ¿Qué le gusta hacer? (inf) What do you like to do (lit – what is pleasing to you to do? Me gusta… (singular) Me gustan… (plural) I like … (something singular) Lit – (something pleases me.) Ex - Me gustan los Corvettes = i like Corvettes. Never say ‘Me gustas tu’; you’ll probable get slapped (unless you say it to your spouse). Me gusta (+ Infinitivo) I like to (do something). Ex – Me gusta estudiar = I like to study. Ex – Me gusta pintar = I like to paint.