How to Say "hello?" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “hello?” is “bueno” — use 'bueno' as a casual greeting when answering the telephone, similar to saying 'hello?' or 'yes?' in English..
English → Spanish
bueno
/BWEH-no//ˈbweno/
InterjectionA2Informal
Use 'bueno' as a casual greeting when answering the telephone, similar to saying 'hello?' or 'yes?' in English.
Examples
Bueno, ¿quién habla?
Hello?, who's speaking?
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
Use 'dígame' specifically when answering the telephone to politely inquire who is calling or what they need.
Examples
—¿Hola? —Dígame, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle?
—Hello? —Yes, how can I help you?
Answering the Phone: 'Bueno' vs. 'Dígame'
Learners often confuse 'bueno' and 'dígame' when answering the phone. While 'bueno' is a general response, 'dígame' is more polite and specifically asks 'tell me' who is calling or what they want, making it suitable for customer service or formal contexts.
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