¡Hola y mucho gusto! Spanish Greetings and Introductions for Beginners (A1)
Starting a conversation in Spanish is easier than you think! In this lesson, you’ll learn the most common greetings, how to introduce yourself, and how to be polite in everyday situations. We’ll keep it simple, practical, and friendly—perfect for A1 learners.
When and how to greet in Spanish
Spanish greetings change depending on the time of day and level of formality. Learn these first—they’re your daily toolkit.
Tip: Use “buenos días” until lunchtime, “buenas tardes” in the afternoon, and “buenas noches” in the evening or before bed. “Hola” works anytime.
Buenos , profesora.
Asking how someone is
Common follow-ups after “hola” or a time-of-day greeting:
Introducing yourself: names and origin
There are two super common ways to say your name:
- Me llamo + nombre (literally: I call myself)
- Soy + nombre (I am + name)
Both are fine at A1. “Me llamo” is the most common introduction.
To ask someone’s name:
- Informal: ¿Cómo te llamas?
- Formal: ¿Cómo se llama usted?
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | llamo |
| tú | llamas |
| él/ella/usted | llama |
| nosotros/as | llamamos |
| vosotros/as | llamáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | llaman |
Say your name with “Me llamo…”
¿Cómo llamas?
¿De eres?
Being polite: nice to meet you
After names, it’s polite to say it’s nice to meet someone.
Mini conversation: put the lines in order
Practice a polite exchange with “usted” (formal).
Culture tips to sound natural
- A handshake is common in formal situations; friends may hug or do one cheek kiss (varies by country). Follow the other person’s lead.
- In many places, using usted with older adults or in customer service shows respect.
- A simple hola plus a smile goes a long way. Add gracias and por favor to be extra polite.
- In Spain, vosotros is used for “you (plural)” informally; in Latin America, ustedes is used for both formal and informal plural.
Quick check: do you have it?
Answer these short questions and read the explanations.
Your turn: practice in real life
- Greet the next person you meet in Spanish (Hola or Buenos días).
- Introduce yourself: Me llamo + your name. Soy de + your city.
- Add a polite phrase: Mucho gusto.
You’ve got this! Keep these phrases handy and use them often. The more you greet and introduce yourself in Spanish, the more natural it will feel.