Modern Foreign Languages
Beginner
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+165 XP

Greeting Friends in Spanish

In this lesson, you will learn essential Spanish greetings for friends, distinguishing between formal options like "Hola" and "Buenas noches" for adults, and informal ones like "¡Hola!" and "¿Cómo estás?" for peers. Explore vocabulary through word tables, practise with flashcards and matching games, complete worksheets, and join discussions to build confidence in using them naturally.

Teacher Class Feed

Load previous activity

    1 - Welcome

    Illustration for WelcomeImagine you're in Madrid, walking past the Royal Palace, and a friend spots you from across the street. What do you say to greet them in Spanish? Today, you'll discover how to say hello like a true Madrileño (someone from Madrid)!

    • Learn key Spanish greetings for friends and adults.
    • Explore formal and informal ways to say hello and ask how someone is.
    • Practice with interactive word tables, flashcards, and matching games.
    • Test your skills with worksheets and class discussion.


    By the end of this lesson: You'll confidently greet anyone in Spanish, knowing when to use formal or informal language.

    2 - Spanish Greetings

    Word TableThis word table lays out the vocabulary clearly, side by side in English and Spanish, so you can see everything at a glance.

    Take a moment to explore the table and tap on any Spanish word to hear its pronunciation—perfect for getting comfortable with how they sound. It's your go-to spot for quick checks and confident practice as you dive deeper into conversations.

    3 - Formal and Informal Greetings

    Illustration for Formal and Informal GreetingsIn Spanish, how you greet someone depends on who they are and how well you know them. There are two main types: formal greetings for adults, teachers, or people you don't know well, and informal greetings for friends and people your age.

    Formal Greetings:

    • Hola - Hello (use this most of the time for formal situations).
    • Buenas noches - Good evening (use after about 5pm).
    • ¿Cómo está usted? - How are you? (formal way).

    Informal Greetings:

    • ¡Hola! - Hi / Bye (like 'hi' to friends).
    • ¿Cómo estás? - How's it going? (casual way to ask how someone is).
    Remember: Use formal greetings to show respect to adults or strangers. Save informal ones for your friends. Practice switching between them to sound natural!

    4 - Tips

    💡 Top Tips
    • Listen carefully to Ey – pronounce it like 'ay'.
    • Practice Hola – say 'oh-lah', with a clear 'h' that's softly aspirated.
    • For ¿Cómo estás? , pronounce it 'koh-moh es-tahs', with rising intonation on the question.
    • Repeat each word after the audio several times to match the rhythm and intonation.
    • Record yourself saying the greetings and compare to the audio to improve your pronunciation.

    5 - Flip and Learn

    FlashcardsIt's time to build your Spanish vocabulary hands-on. These interactive flashcards let you flip through key phrases at your own pace, revealing English translations and hearing the correct pronunciation with each turn.

    Get ready to test your memory and boost your confidence in speaking Spanish—flip a card and see what you discover!

    Unlock the Full Learning Experience

    Get ready to embark on an incredible learning journey! Get access to this lesson and hundreds more on our learning platform.

    Copyright Notice
    This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2025. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.
    🍪 Our website uses cookies to make your browsing experience better. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more