There is a formal and an informal way to address a Spanish-speaking person. Which one you use depends on how well you know the person and/or his/her age.

It is always best to address someone you do not know well or who is older than you are by using usted (Ud.) (oos-tehd).

Once you get to know someone well and especially if he or she has requested that you do so, use tú (too).

Greetings in Spanish

• Good morning. Buenos días. (bweh-nohs dee-ahs)
• Good afternoon. Buenas tardes. (bweh-nahs tahr-dehs)
• Good evening./Good night. Buenas noches. (bweh-nahs nohchehs)
• Hi. Hola. (oh-lah)
• How are you? ¿Cómo está usted? (koh-moh ehs-tahoos-tehd)
• ¿Cómo estás tú? (koh-moh ehs-tahs too)
• How is it going? ¿Cómo le va? (koh-moh leh bah)
• I am fine, thanks. And you? Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y Ud.? (ehs-toh-eebyehn grah-syahs ee oos-tehd)
• Very well. Muy bien. (moo-ee byehn)
• So-so. Regular./Así, así. (rreh-goo-lahr/ah-seeah-see)

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