¿Qué tal?
This phrase is similar to saying “how’s it going?” in English. It is an informal way to ask how someone is doing.
There are longer versions you may also hear, such as “¿qué tal todo?” which means “how’s everything going?” or “¿qué tal estás?” which means “how are you?” All of these can be used with friends.
When you ask “¿qué tal?” your friend might answer by telling you how they feel. However, it is also very common for them to respond with another “¿qué tal?” This works much like saying “hi” back.
Example:
- Hey, Malcolm, ¿qué tal?
- Hey, Malcolm, how’s it going?
¿Qué onda?
This phrase means “what’s up?” It is very informal, so you should only use it with friends or people your age. Do not use it with teachers, bosses, or other authority figures.
Because it works as a greeting, the other person may respond with “¿qué onda?” or simply “hola.”
If you want to encourage your friend to share more, you can add another sentence or a more specific question right after saying it.
Examples:
- ¿Qué onda, Emily?
- What’s up, Emily?
- ¿Qué onda, Fer? ¡No te había visto en mucho tiempo!
- What’s up, Fer? I hadn’t seen you in a long time!
Holi
“Holi” is a cute version of “hola.” It is very popular with young children and sounds sweet and friendly.
Some teenagers, especially girls, also use it with close friends when they want to sound affectionate or playful.
Example:
- Holi, te extrañé mucho.
- Hi, I missed you very much.
¿Qué hay?
This phrase is another way to say “what’s up?” or “how are things?”
The response might be a brief update on life, a simple “nada” which means “nothing,” or even another greeting like “¿qué onda?”
Example:
- ¡Alberto! ¿Qué hay? Vi que adoptaste otro perrito.
- Alberto! How are things? I saw you adopted another dog.
Oa
“Oa” is commonly used by very young children who are still learning to pronounce “hola.” It sounds similar but is easier for them to say.
Because of this, it can also be used in a playful or tender way. Parents may hear their children use it, or they may use it themselves when greeting kids in a sweet and fun manner.
This word also became popular through the Spanish version of the children’s show Teletubbies, where the characters greeted viewers by saying “oa.”
Example:
- ¡Oa, mami! Hoy aprendí a decir “hola” en español.
- Hi, mommy! Today I learned how to say “hello” in Spanish!
Learn Spanish with TruFluency Kids
Ready for your children to learn more everyday Spanish that helps them sound like native speakers? Greeting phrases are just the beginning. Kids also need vocabulary for school, playtime, emotions, stories, and real conversations.
That is exactly what they get in TruFluency Kids Spanish immersion classes.
Our native speaking teachers help students grow in every area of the language:
- Speaking and conversation
- Listening and comprehension
- Reading and writing
- Grammar and real life vocabulary
Most importantly, we want kids to reach real Spanish fluency. Every lesson is based on the Bellieu Method, created by our founder and CEO, Micah Bellieu. This method focuses on getting students to speak Spanish in every single class using the words and phrases they have learned.
Because we know parents are busy, our classes are fully online and offer flexible schedules, so your child can study from anywhere in the world without extra driving time.
Ready to take the next step? Enroll your kids in our next four week session, or choose a private class if you prefer a more personalized experience.
¡Nos vemos en clase!
