Spanish greetings and introductions
Start a conversation, introduce yourself and ask someone’s name. Practise hola, me llamo and cómo te llamas in one short, complete Spanish exchange.
A first exchange
Hola, me llamo Ana. ¿Cómo te llamas? — Me llamo Luis. Encantado. This introduces Ana and asks Luis his name. Use me llamo before your name; do not add soy inside that expression.
Choose the level of formality
¿Cómo te llamas? addresses someone as tú. ¿Cómo se llama? can address someone as usted in a more formal exchange. Context and relationships matter; neither choice describes every situation in Spain.
Continue the conversation
¿De dónde eres? — Soy de Canadá. This asks where someone is from. Vivo en Madrid means I live in Madrid: your home and your country of origin can be different. To end a short conversation, say Hasta luego (See you later) or Gracias, adiós (Thank you, goodbye). Practise the reply as well as the question so you are ready to listen.
Try it
Introduce yourself as Marta and ask someone’s name informally. Then change only the question to the usted form.
Check your answer
Hola, me llamo Marta. ¿Cómo te llamas? Formal question: ¿Cómo se llama?
Practical guides
Ask for directions in Spain
Find a station, follow simple directions and ask someone to repeat more slowly. Practise derecha, izquierda and todo recto with real Spanish examples.
Shop and ask prices in Spanish
Ask about prices, sizes and payment with practical Spanish shopping examples, from cuánto cuesta to paying by card and asking for a different size.
Check in at a hotel in Spanish
Explain a reservation, ask about breakfast and describe a simple room problem in Spanish, with the phrases you actually need at a hotel desk in Spain.
Tell the time and make plans in Spanish
Practise es la una, son las dos and a las with simple meeting arrangements, so you can agree a time and a place to meet someone and confirm it in Spanish.
Order at a café in Spanish
Practise a short café order and ask for the bill. Learn to ask for a coffee, add por favor and gracias, and pay without switching back to English.
Ask clear questions in Spanish
Use question words and Spanish punctuation in everyday sentences. Practise qué, dónde, cuándo and cómo, and the inverted mark that opens each question.
Spanish for beginners: guides and exercises
Start learning Spanish with seven free guides. Practise introductions, café orders, directions and more with explanations, exercises and answers.
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