Word: hola (interjection)

Associations

"Hola" is a common greeting in Spanish, which means "hello." It is used to greet someone in a friendly way.

• Example 1: When you meet a friend, you can say, "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?" (Hello! How are you?).
• Example 2: In a phone call, you might start with, "Hola, ¿me puedes ayudar?" (Hello, can you help me?).
• Example 3: When entering a room with people, you can say, "Hola a todos!" (Hello everyone!).

The word "hola" does not have a direct synonym in Spanish, but "buenas" can be used as a greeting too. The main difference is that "buenas" is often short for "buenas tardes" (good afternoon) or "buenas noches" (good evening), making it more time-specific.

Substitution

Instead of "hola," you can use:

• "buenas" (good) - a more casual greeting, often used at any time of the day.
• "saludos" (greetings) - more formal and can be used in written communication.
• "qué tal" (what's up) - a more informal way to greet someone, often used among friends.

These alternatives change the tone or formality of the greeting.

Deconstruction

The word "hola" comes from the Spanish language. It has no prefixes or suffixes. Its origins are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have evolved from earlier forms of greeting in European languages.

Inquiry

• When do you usually say "hola" in your daily life?
• Can you think of a time when you greeted someone in a different language?
• How do greetings differ in your culture compared to Spanish?