When traveling in a foreign country, if you want to converse with a person whom you don’t know at all, a formal approach is mandatory. It is considered quite a mistake to address someone informally if a strong friendship or relationship has not been established.

Be sure to start and end your conversations correctly by using the appropriate greetings and goodbyes listed below.

Formal Greetings and Goodbyes

SPANISH / ENGLISH

Buenos días. / Hello.
Buenas tardes. / Good afternoon.
Señor / Mr.
Señora / Mrs.
Señorita / Miss (Ms.)
¿Cómo se llama Ud.? / What’s your name?
Me llamo… / My name is…
Mucho gusto en conocerle. / I’m happy to meet you.
Le presento a… / I’d like you to meet…
¿Cómo está Ud.? / How are you?
Muy bien. / Very well.
Bien. / All right.
Así así. / So-so.
Adiós. / Good-bye.
Buenas noches. / Good night.

Informal Greetings and Goodbyes

SPANISH / ENGLISH

¡Hola! / Hi.
¿Cómo te llamas? / What’s your name?
Me llamo… / My name is…
Encantado(a). / Pleased to meet you.
Te presento a… / I’d like you to meet…
Adiós. / Bye.
¿Cómo estás? / How are you?
Bien. / Fine.
¿Cómo te va? / How’s it going?
¿Qué hay de nuevo? / What’s new?
Nada en particular. / Nothing (much).
Hasta muy pronto. / See you very soon.
Hasta luego. / See you later.
Luego te veo. I’ll be seeing you.
Hasta mañana. / See you tomorrow.

The greeting encantado is an adjective and must agree in gender with the speaker. Use encantado if you are a man and encantada if you are a woman.

As a sign of respect, older Spanish women are generally referred to and addressed as Señora, regardless of their marital status. When in doubt, use Señora. Señorita is reserved for younger, unmarried women.