The relativity of the Spanish Language is what makes it one of the best hospitable languages to utter.
One of those Spanish terms that bring out these qualities is Hola, which I presume you’ve heard.
This term promotes hospitality and politeness, whether it is directed to a friend, family, or even stranger.
Used as a form of greeting in some instances; you might want to be keen while considering the best replies to give when someone says hola to you.
In this article, I’ll be discussing in detail what it means when someone says hola and what plausible replies to say in the circumstance. To know more, keep reading on!
What Does It Mean When Someone Says Hola?
In general, when someone says “hola”, it means he or she is extending a sign of salutation to you. Hola is an informal greeting for most Spanish-speaking folks, especially when they meet a new person.
That’s to say; when you hear “hola” from someone just know they’re trying to relate with you, but are trying to do that first by greeting you.
To that end, you can assert that “hola” is the informal way of saying “Buenos dias”; which is the formal way of greeting someone in Spanish circles.
Hola use in sentences
- Hola amigo, how’re you doing?
Moving on; the phrase can as mean a way of attracting someone else’s attention or passing encouragement or exultation by shouting
This meaning of “hola” is only valid if there’s a form of exclamation that the person infuses while saying “hola”.
This particular meaning is synonymous with the people of Latin America, which they usually use to express surprise.
- Hola, it’s a bouncing baby boy
One detail you wouldn’t want to miss is the fact that “hola” is strongly similar to English terms like hi, hello, hey, and so on, as they all fall in the category of informal greetings.
Because of this; this form of greeting is not usually used in most office settings due to how informal it sounds.
You’d notice that the majority of people who use this term are mainly close friends, families, or just anybody who doesn’t feel entitled to address you formally.
- Hola, what’s good my guy?
Knowing how to respond to “hola” is quite easy, but it takes a different turn if you don’t know how to pattern your replies to meet the circumstance in which the term is mentioned.
Because of this, it is pertinent to know that the replies to “hola” is dependent on the form of individual context in that you find yourself and the person who says the greeting to you.
On that note, I’ve curated around 20 ways to respond to Hola but although it’s spread across five different circumstances.
Below are the instances where “hola” can be used, and for which different replies are tailored.
- Hola Amigo
- Hola Señorita
- Hola Papi
- Hola Niño/Nina
- Hola mami
4 Hola Amigo Responses
Amigo is a Spanish word that translates to mean friend in the English Language. Hence, I’ll be providing replies when someone says “Hola Amigo” to you, which means they’re saying “Hello friend”.
- Hey buddy – Hola Amigo
- What’s good my guy? – Lol ques es bueno mi chico?
- Hello my very good friend – Hola mi muy bueno amigo
- Hey, can I know you? – Oye, puedo conocerte?
Hey buddy – Hola Amigo
How about you throw back the reply that someone gives you back to them? Yes, when someone says Hola Amigo to you, you can respond by telling them the same thing.
That’d be if you’re not up for many words, or you’re the type that finds it difficult to fully express yourself.
Also, if you’re in a haste and are looking for the best way to get rid of any intending conversation which might spring up from the person who says “hola amigo” to you, then you can use this line of response.
You’d notice that the Spanish translation of this response is the same as what the person already said to you, so your response would blend in as if you’re also of Spanish descent, but that’d be if you choose to use the Spanish version of the response instead of the English version.
What’s good my guy? – Lol ques es bueno mi chico?
Since we’ve already established that “hola” is an informal greeting, you can also use an informal line to serve a response when someone says “hola” to you.
However, the circumstance in which hola was used is one in which the speaker recognizes you as a friend. If you share the same sentiment with the speaker, you can go ahead to tag them along as your friend too.
Judging from the nature of this response, you’re likely directing it to a guy friend, so you should take note of that.
The response here is a question, and I engineered it so you can find out how the speaker is feeling, or what they’re up to. It also shows how concerned you are to know about the person’s state of well-being.
Hello my very good friend – Hola mi muy bueno amigo
For what it’s worth, I can say for certain that “hola amigo” is usually used by guys and for guys.
So, if you’re a guy then using this response is a win for you, especially if you’re looking forward to blending in with the speaker even when you don’t know them.
It takes off the fact that you’re a noob because the reply presents you as someone who already knows their way of relating with people of Spanish descent.
Nevertheless, replying with this line of the response shows that you’re also on the same page with the speaker.
Even if you’re not really “friends”, this response shows that you’re replying in the spirit of humanity i.e. for the culture.
You’ll also be giving out the vibe that you’re an easygoing person when you use this line of response for someone you don’t even know. Not only that, it depicts how accommodating you can be.
Hey, can I know you? – Oye, puedo conocerte?
This is another question-like response “Hola amigo”. Picture this scenario…you meet someone for the first time and they throw a salutation first at you by saying “hola amigo”, and you’re perplexed as to how the person managed to use such a tone on you almost as if they know you personally.
In this case, there’s no need for you to dwell for long on the thoughts or confusion which may set in afterward as you can use this line of response to clear the air of confusion surrounding why the person says to you “hola amigo’.
This question helps you uncover the person’s identity and seemingly why they used that tone on you.
5 Hola Señorita Responses
When you translate señorita to English, it means ‘miss’. That’s to say that it is a term used to refer to ladies, especially those who are yet to get married.
Similarly, any woman that was once married but is now divorced can also be addressed as señorita.
However, when the prefix “hola” is used before addressing someone as a señorita, you can use any of these replies below to pose a response to the speaker.
- Hello mister – Hola señor
- Hey, you look familiar – Oye, the ves familiar
- Hey, how may I help you? – Oye, cómo puedo ayudarte?
- Hi, handsome – Hola guapo
- Hi, good day – Hola, buen dia
Hello mister – Hola señor
As a lady, a guy can say “hola señorita” to you as a way of starting a conversation with you. Perhaps, he wants to indulge you as a friend or even an intending partner in a relationship.
Nevertheless, his intentions may be far from making friends with you as he could be trying to propose a business idea but wants to kick things off on a friendly note.
To this end, you can sound as “friendly” as possible with your response when you want to reply to the speaker who addresses you with “hola señorita”.
And you can achieve that by using this phrasal response. Addressing the person by saying “hello mister” works well in the spirit of friendliness.
Hey, you look familiar – Oye, the ves familiar
As a lady, this response is another way of sounding friendly to the person who says to you “hola señorita”.
Albeit, if the speaker looks like someone you know but is finding it hard to recall, you can use this line of response to assert that you might’ve known the person from somewhere.
By so doing, the person can likely explain further to you, and help you understand well enough who he or she is.
Away from that…this line of response is undoubtedly a conversation starter so you might want to use it if that’s what you have in mind.
Hey, how may I help you? – Oye, cómo puedo ayudarte?
I know how women act all tough to get while leaving intending suitors and partners clueless about what next to do to win them over.
If you want to play the same game, you can use this line to direct a question to the person who addresses you as “hola señorita”.
With this question, you’re asking the person to state what they want from you or better still, how you can be of help to them.
The person you’re referring to can either offer you an answer to your question or see it as a rude response and consequently walk away.
Hi, handsome – Hola guapo
Do you want to sound all sweet and cherry with your response to the person who addresses you using “hola señorita”?
If so, you can use this reply to do just that. By addressing the person (preferably a guy) as ‘handsome’, you’re positing that you like the person enough to rate their physical endowment.
Hi, good day – Hola, buen dia
If you were saluted by someone randomly by saying “hola señorita”, you can use this line of response to reply to them randomly.
Contrary to my preconceived point that “hola” is not used in formal settings, you can have someone call you “hola señorita” in an office environment, but it’ll mostly come from a fellow employee than your boss.
5 Hola Papi Responses
Papi translates to mean Father in English, and you can respond to “hola papi” using the lines below.
- Hello, my child – Hola mi Niño
- How’re you doing kid? – Como estas chico
- I trust you’re okay – Confio enque Estes bien
- How’re you, my angel? – Como estas mi angel
- Yes, baby – Si, bebe
Hello, my child – Hola mi Niño
I’d suppose that the best person to address you as “papi” would be your child. I know this because of the strong value in most Spanish homes and how often children are made to understand the need for them to respect their elders, and most especially their parents.
Hence, when your offspring addresses you by saying “hola papi”, you can respond with his line.
This shows that you’re acknowledging him or her as your child and are giving them a listening ear to hear what they’re about to say.
How’re you doing kid? – Como estas chico
How about you go right into asking your child how he or she is faring when they beckon you by saying “hola papi”?
That’d be a great plan, as a continuous show of concern from you to your children helps to close in on the gap of communication.
This helps you know what it is your children desire and how to fulfill them.
I trust you’re okay – Confio enque Estes bien
I know assumptions when it comes to child upbringing are not an ideal act, but if your kid that beckoned you by saying “hola papi” is older, you can use this line to reply to them.
In this case, you can’t control their actions, so all you hope for is that they stay hale and hearty for you and the future.
How’re you, my angel? – Como estas mi angel
Kids love it when they’re adorned by their parents. They feel wanted, cared for, and important. You can pull this string when your ward or child says “hola papi”.
As a father, you have a big role of protection to play, and trust me when I say that your child feels protected when you adore them with a line of response such as this one.
You’re not only making them feel good for the sake of adoration, but you’re giving them the sense of belonging that they have a father who cherishes them a lot.
This goes a long mile to ensure you maintain decorum in your relationship with your kids.
Yes, baby – Si, bebe
A soft word they say calms the mind. You can leverage this to craft a befitting response when your child beckons on you by saying “hola papi”.
Calling them baby relives them of any tension they may have at the moment and assures them that you still see them.
3 Hola Niño/Nina Responses
Niño/niña are two gender-specific terms used to refer to a child in the Spanish language.
So, as a child, you can reply using any of the following lines below when a senior member of the society or your parents beckon on you by saying “hola niño”.
- Good morning sir or ma – Buenos dias senor o ma
- I’m now an adult – Ahora soy UN adulto
- Stop calling me a kid! – Deja de ilamarme niño!
Good morning sir or ma – Buenos dias senor o ma
As a child, you have a duty of being respectful. This is no duty to lag as it elevates one’s worth in society by an enormous standard.
So, when your parent, elder, or any senior member of the society beckons on you by saying “hola niño”, you should answer with this line of response.
I’m now an adult – Ahora soy un adulto
Perhaps, you look way younger than your age and someone mistakes you for a child and addresses you as such. You can correct the person’s assumption using this line of response.
Stop calling me a kid! – Deja de ilamarme niño!
Do you feel pissed each time someone calls you a kid? Probably, you’re a few months into adulthood and are still not recognized as one by people around you.
If that’s the case, you can agitate your grievances by employing this line of response, which is an exclamation statement shunning the person from saying the same thing to you again.
3 Hola Mami Responses
Mami means mother in English, and below are some replies you can give if you’re addressed as such.
- Hi, my child – Hola, mi hijo
- My child, you don’t sound happy – Mi hijo, so suenas feliz
- What do you want from your mummy this time? – Qué quieres de mama esta vez?
Hi, my child – Hola, mi hijo
Mothers have the responsibility of nurturing their children, which means they’re supposed to be mild and understanding towards their children.
As a mother, your child may call on you by saying “hola mami”. And to this, you can reply by recognizing that they’re your child(ren) by saying this reply.
My child, you don’t sound happy – Mi hijo, so suenas feliz
Do you feel a sign of shallowness in the voice of your child who beckoned on you by saying “hola mami”?
If so, you can inquire why it is so by first asserting that they’re not happy. A child that sees that his or her mother knows they’re disturbed will be forced to open up to her.
What do you want from your mummy this time? – Qué quieres de mama esta vez?
Sometimes, the best way of knowing what bothers your child is to give them a setting that allows them to fully open up to you. And you can do that using this line of response.
Wrapping Up
This is where I draw the curtain on this subject matter. But before I leave, I’ll love to mention that the replies in this post are practicable and as such meets your need for how to respond to “hola”.
Kindly drop your comments below, and ask questions if need be.