TL;DR
- Hola works everywhere in both Mexico and Spain, at any time of day.
- Mexico is more formal—older people, strangers, and professionals often expect usted.
- Spain is more casual—tú is used more widely, even with adults you just met.
- Everyday slang differs a lot: qué onda (Mexico) vs qué tal (Spain).
- Time-based greetings—buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches—are universally understood but used with different frequency.
What’s the difference between “hi in Spanish in Mexico vs Spain”?
The short answer: “Hi” in both Mexico and Spain is usually hola, but Mexicans favor more formality—especially with older people—while Spaniards use casual phrases like ¿qué tal? with almost everyone.
Mexico leans respectful; Spain leans relaxed. Everything else (tone, pronouns, slang, and cultural cues) builds on this simple rule.
According to the Real Academia Española, hola is defined as a neutral greeting with no formal weight, which explains why it works seamlessly across all Spanish-speaking regions.
Below, you’ll see exactly how these differences work in real life, with examples for travel, family visits, work settings, and everyday conversations.
What Is the Most Neutral Way to Say Hi in Both Mexico and Spain?
The safest universal greeting in Spanish is hola — neutral, friendly, and suitable almost anywhere.
It works:
- with friends and family
- with coworkers and clients
- with older strangers
- with people your age
- in every Spanish-speaking country
The RAE’s entry on hola confirms that it carries no formal register, which is why it’s so widely acceptable.
Pronunciation tip:
The “h” is always silent → ola.
If you need help refining Spanish vowel sounds, our guide on Pronunciation Guide helps learners master the crisp vowels behind greetings like hola and buenos días.
Do Mexicans and Spaniards Use the Same Greetings?
Yes, the core greetings are the same, but usage and tone differ.
Both countries use:
- hola – hi
- buenos días – good morning
- buenas tardes – good afternoon/evening
- buenas noches – good evening/night
- ¿cómo estás? – how are you?
- ¿qué tal? – how’s it going?
According to Instituto Cervantes, these greetings belong to the shared “fórmulas de saludo” used throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
But the patterns shift:
- Mexico uses more politeness markers (titles, formal pronouns, careful tone).
- Spain uses shorter, friendlier, more relaxed expressions.
Research from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) highlights how cultural norms around respect shape the way Mexicans greet strangers and older adults.
🇲🇽 Hi in Mexican Spanish
How Do People Say Hi in Mexico?
Mexican Spanish mixes warmth with respect, especially toward older people, professionals, or anyone you don’t know well.
Typical Mexican greetings include:
- Hola – universal
- Buenas – friendly, casual
- ¿Qué onda? – extremely common slang (“What’s up?”; literally “what wave?”)
- ¿Qué tal? – neutral, friendly
- ¿Cómo estás? – informal “how are you?”
- ¿Cómo está usted? – formal version
Mexico uses a wide range of casual slang greetings among close friends:
- ¡Qué tranza! – super casual
- ¿Qué pedo? – very informal; only use with close friends
- ¡Ya llovió! – said when meeting someone after a long time (“long time no see”)
- Holiii – playful version used by younger people
These phrases appear frequently in Mexican media and reflect the creative use of slang noted in UNAM sociolinguistic studies.
How Formal Should You Be in Mexico?
Mexico maintains strong norms around respect.
You default to usted with:
- older people
- clients
- teachers
- doctors
- strangers in service settings
This matches the Cervantes Institute’s guidance on “formas de tratamiento,” where usted signals distance, respect, or professionalism.
Example: “Buenos días, señor. ¿Cómo está usted?”
Later, the other person may invite you to switch:
“Puedes tutearme.” (“You can use tú with me.”)
This pattern—start formal, then relax—is a key difference between Mexico and Spain.
Do Mexicans Really Say “Bueno” on the Phone?
Yes. In Mexico, answering the phone with “¿Bueno?” is completely normal.
While undocumented in many textbooks, it’s widely noted in Mexican sociolinguistic surveys as a practical habit that replaced hola in telephone culture.
It replaces hola on calls, but never use it face-to-face.
Cultural Notes: Mexican Greetings
A few uniquely Mexican habits documented in regional dialect studies:
- Friends sometimes greet each other with a short whistle + handshake.
- Women often use one cheek kiss.
- Men normally avoid cheek kisses with other men (not typical).
- With friends or family, greetings come with warmth, small talk, and physical closeness.
- With seniors, personal space and respect matter more.
If you’re learning to build natural conversation flow, see our guide on
Casual vs Formal Hi in Spanish (Mexico & Spain), which helps contextualize greetings inside real interactions.
🇪🇸 Hi in Spain (Peninsular Spanish)
What Is the Most Common Greeting in Spain?
The default Spanish greeting in Spain is ¿qué tal?.
People say:
- “Hola, ¿qué tal?”
- “Buenas” (common in shops and offices)
It’s friendly but not too casual—perfect for daily life.
As noted in the RAE usage notes, ¿qué tal? functions as both greeting and light check-in, explaining its frequency in Peninsular Spanish.
Why Is Spain More Casual Than Mexico?
Spain uses tú much more broadly than Mexico, even with new neighbors or people roughly your age.
Examples of first-time interactions in Spain:
- “Hola, ¿qué tal?” (to a new coworker)
- “Buenas, ¿qué tal?” (to a shop owner)
- “Hola, buenas.” (to adults of any age)
Cross-regional studies published by the Instituto Cervantes show that usted in Spain is reserved for high-formality or ceremonial situations, which is why learners often feel Spaniards sound more relaxed.
Physical Greetings in Spain
Spain is famously warm and expressive, with physical greetings documented extensively in European ethnographic studies:
- Two cheek kisses (friends, acquaintances, most women)
- Handshakes between men in formal settings
- Individual greetings when entering a room — not just “hi everyone”
These cues help learners avoid awkwardness on arrival.
⚖️ Direct Comparison: Hi in Spanish in Mexico vs Spain
Comparison Table
| Situation | Mexico | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting a stranger | Formal: “Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?” | Casual-neutral: “Hola, ¿qué tal?” |
| Greeting older people | Formal tone + usted | Sometimes formal, but tú appears sooner |
| With close friends | “¿Qué onda?”, “¿Qué tranza?” | “¿Qué tal?”, “Oye” |
| In shops | “Buenas tardes” (more formal) | “Buenas” (very common) |
| On the phone | “¿Bueno?” | “¿Sí?” or “Diga” |
| Slang | Highly regional phrases (qué onda, qué pedo) | Less slang in greetings; more tone-based casualness |
| Body language | Handshake or one cheek kiss | Two cheek kisses in many contexts |
🗣️ Q&A: Common Learner Questions
Is “hola” formal or informal?
Hola is neutral.
This neutrality is confirmed by the RAE’s definition, making it safe everywhere.
When should I use “buenos días” instead of “hola”?
Use buenos días when you want to be polite—especially in Mexico, with older people or service professionals.
This aligns with Cervantes’ guidelines on greeting etiquette.
Which country uses “qué onda”?
Mexico.
UNAM regional research notes its dominance among young speakers.
Spain rarely uses this phrase.
Is “¿qué tal?” used in Mexico?
Yes, but Spain uses it far more often.
Its dual role as greeting + check-in is documented by the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas.
How do I avoid sounding rude in Mexico?
Use:
- proper titles (señor, señora)
- usted until invited to use tú
- time-based greetings (buenos días / buenas tardes)
Why does Spain sound more relaxed?
Spain’s culture favors short, friendly greetings and more direct interactions.
Cervantes explains that tú carries less social distance in modern Peninsular Spanish.
Which greeting works with a close friend?
Both countries use:
- hola
- ¿cómo estás?
- ¿qué tal?
Mexico adds:
- qué onda
- qué tranza
- qué pedo (very informal)
Spain adds:
- oye
- hola, buenas
🌎 Examples: Real-Life Dialogues
In Mexico (formal first contact)
You: “Buenos días, doctor. ¿Cómo está usted?”
Doctor: “Buenos días, ¿en qué le puedo ayudar?”
Later:
Doctor: “Puedes tutearme, no hay problema.”
In Spain (meeting a neighbor)
You: “Hola, buenas. ¿Qué tal?”
Neighbor: “Muy bien, ¿y tú?”
With a close friend in Mexico
Friend: “¡Qué onda, güey!”
You: “Todo bien, ¿y tú?”
With a close friend in Spain
Friend: “Oye, ¿qué tal?”
You: “Bien, gracias.”
🧠 Pronunciation Tips for Both Countries
- hola → ˈo.la
- buenos días → ˈbwe.nos ˈdi.as
- ¿qué tal? → ke tal
The RAE’s pronunciation system emphasizes short, pure vowels with no English-style diphthongs.
To make these greetings sound natural, review vowel clarity and rhythm using our Spanish vowel guide.
📝 Final Takeaway
The difference between hi in Spanish in Mexico vs Spain is mostly cultural:
- Mexico → warmer but more formal, especially with older people and strangers.
- Spain → casual, short greetings used with almost everyone.
- Hola works everywhere, every day, in every situation.
Once you observe tone and context, you’ll navigate both varieties confidently—at work, with friends, or when traveling across Spanish-speaking countries.