How to Say "hello?" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “hello?” is “bueno” — use this word when answering the telephone, similar to saying 'hello?' or 'yes?' when picking up the phone.
English → Spanish
bueno
BWEH-noˈbweno
InterjectionA2Informal
Use this word when answering the telephone, similar to saying 'hello?' or 'yes?' when picking up the phone.
Examples
Bueno, ¿quién es?
Hello? Who is it?
Bueno, no estoy seguro.
Well, I'm not sure.
¿Quieres ir al parque? — ¡Bueno!
Do you want to go to the park? — Okay!
(Al contestar el teléfono) ¿Bueno?
(Answering the phone) Hello?
dígame
Verb PhraseA1Formal
This is specifically used when answering the telephone, functioning as a polite way to ask who is calling or how you can help.
Examples
—¿Hola? —Dígame, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle?
—Hello? —Yes, how can I help you?
aló
InterjectionA1Informal
Use this word when you want to check if someone is still on the line, especially during a phone call where you suspect the connection might be bad or the person has stopped listening.
Examples
¡Aló! ¿Sigues ahí?
Hello? Are you still there?
Answering the Phone vs. Checking Connection
The most common mistake is using 'aló' when you mean to answer the phone. Remember that 'bueno' and 'dígame' are the standard ways to greet someone when you pick up the phone, while 'aló' is for checking if someone is still present on the line.
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