When someone greets you with ‘Hola,’ which is Spanish for ‘Hello,’ there are several friendly ways you can respond. The most straightforward reply would be to simply echo the greeting back, saying ‘Hola’ in return. This shows that you’re acknowledging the person and their greeting.
Alternatively, you can add more to your response to make it warmer or more conversational. You might say:
- Hola, ¿cómo estás? – This means ‘Hello, how are you?’ and invites the other person to share how they are doing.
- Hola, buenos días/tardes/noches – Depending on the time of day, you can personalize your response with ‘good morning,’ ‘good afternoon,’ or ‘good evening.’
Ultimately, the best response depends on the context and your relationship with the person. A simple, friendly ‘Hola’ usually suffices, but feel free to brighten the exchange with a bit more if you like!