What Does "Hi" Mean in Mexican Spanish? Greetings Guide

Standard (Universal)

• **¡Hola!** — Neutral, any time, any person.
• **¡Buenos días!** — Good morning (until ~12 PM).
• **¡Buenas tardes!** — Good afternoon (~12 PM–sunset).
• **¡Buenas noches!** — Good evening/night (after sunset; also goodbye).

Casual / Mexican Slang

• **¿Qué onda?** — "What's up?" (very common, friends).
• **¿Qué tal?** — "How's it going?"
• **¿Cómo estás? / ¿Cómo te va?** — "How are you?"
• **¡Quihubo!** — Colloquial "What's up?" (from *quiubo* = *qué hubo*).
• **¡Épale!** — Cheerful "Hey!" (coastal, Caribbean influence).
• **¡Buenas!** — Short for *buenas tardes/noches*; all-day casual.

Context Matters

• **Formal/Strangers/Older:** *Buenos días/tardes/noches*, *¿Cómo está?* (usted).
• **Friends/Peers:** *Hola*, *¿Qué onda?*, *Quihubo*.
• **Phone:** *¿Bueno?* (Mexico), *¿Diga?*, *Hola*.

Pronunciation Tip

**H is silent** in Spanish. *Hola* = "OH-lah". *Hasta luego* = "AH-stah LWEH-go".