Imagine landing in Madrid or meeting a Spanish-speaking neighbor — and actually having your first little conversation in Spanish. Today, we’ll give you the essential phrases to say hello, introduce yourself, ask someone’s name, share where you’re from, and say goodbye. Everything is beginner-friendly, with simple grammar, culture notes, and lots of practice.

By the end, you’ll be able to greet someone, ask and answer basic questions, and leave a good impression — in Spanish!

Greetings: Start with a smile

In Spanish, greetings are simple and friendly. Use them often and pair them with a smile.

Common greetings:

• Hola. (Hi.)
• Buenos días. (Good morning.)
• Buenas tardes. (Good afternoon.)
• Buenas noches. (Good evening/night.)

To ask “How are you?” informally:

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
• Bien, gracias. (Fine, thanks.)
• Más o menos. (So-so.)
• Muy bien. (Very well.)

, ¿cómo estás? (Hi, how are you?)

Mini practice: Reply to a greeting

If someone says: “Hola, ¿cómo estás?” a natural reply is:

• Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Fine, thanks. And you?)

Remember: “tú” is the informal “you” used with friends, people your age, or in casual situations.

Introducing yourself: Names and basics

There are two very common ways to say your name:

• Me llamo Ana. (My name is Ana.)
• Soy Ana. (I am Ana.)

To ask someone’s name:

• ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name? [informal])

Both are super common; “Me llamo” is especially beginner-friendly.

Me Carlos. (My name is Carlos.)

Soy llamado Carlos. → Me llamo Carlos. In Spanish, we say “Me llamo…” (I call myself), not “I am called” with “soy llamado.”

Polite reactions: Make it pleasant

After introductions, use these polite phrases:

• Mucho gusto. (Nice to meet you.)
• Encantado. (Delighted to meet you. [said by a man])
• Encantada. (Delighted to meet you. [said by a woman])
• Igualmente. (Likewise.)

Quick culture note: In many Spanish-speaking places, people are warm and expressive. Smiles, eye contact, and a friendly “Mucho gusto” go a long way. In some countries, cheek kisses are common between friends or acquaintances, but handshakes are fine for a first meeting.

Where you’re from: Easy small talk

Asking and answering about origins is natural small talk:

• ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from? [informal])
• Soy de México. (I’m from Mexico.)
• ¿Eres de aquí? (Are you from here?)
• Sí, soy de aquí. (Yes, I’m from here.) / No, no soy de aquí. (No, I’m not from here.)

Soy México. (I’m from Mexico.)

Estoy de México. → Soy de México. “Estar” is for temporary states/locations. Origin uses “ser de.”

Mini practice: Ask and answer

Try this simple exchange:

• ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
• Soy de Chile. (I’m from Chile.)

Culture tip: Country names are capitalized in Spanish (México, Chile), but nationalities are not (mexicano, chilena).

Quick survival lines

Sometimes you need to switch to English or ask for repetition politely:

• ¿Hablas inglés? (Do you speak English? [informal])
• ¿Puede repetir, por favor? (Could you repeat, please? [formal])
• Más despacio, por favor. (Slower, please.)

Use “por favor” generously — it’s polite and appreciated.

Goodbyes: End well

Wrap up your conversation with:

• Adiós. (Goodbye.)
• Hasta luego. (See you later.)
• Nos vemos. (See you/See you around.)
• Buenas noches. (Good night.)

Hasta la mañana. → Hasta mañana. To say “See you tomorrow,” use “Hasta mañana” (without “la”).

Tiny grammar: Tú vs. usted (just enough for A1)

Spanish has two ways to say “you.”

• tú (informal): friends, peers, casual settings
• usted (formal): older people, professionals, polite distance

For this first conversation, stick with tú unless the situation feels formal. The “How are you?” changes:

• ¿Cómo estás? (informal)
• ¿Cómo está? (formal)

Don’t worry — you’ll get more practice later.

Wrap-up: Your first conversation script

Here’s a simple script you can adapt:

• Hola. (Hi.)
• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
• Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Fine, thanks. And you?)
• Me llamo [tu nombre]. (My name is [your name].)
• Soy de [tu país/ciudad]. (I’m from [your country/city].)
• Mucho gusto / Encantado(a). (Nice to meet you.)
• Hasta luego. (See you later.)

Practice it out loud. Swap in your real name and city. Smile!

Final encouragement

You did it! With “Hola,” “Me llamo…,” “Soy de…,” and “Mucho gusto,” you can have your first real conversation in Spanish. Keep repeating the script, add one new phrase each day, and don’t be afraid to use Spanish in real life — people appreciate your effort.

Next step: try this with a friend or language partner. Start with a friendly “Hola” and go from there. ¡Mucho éxito! (Lots of success!)