Inklingo

How to Say "hey" in Spanish

English → Spanish

oye

/OY-eh//ˈo.ʝe/

InterjectionA1informal
Use 'oye' when you want to directly get someone's attention, often before asking a question or making a statement.
A person tapping a friend on the shoulder to get their attention before speaking.

Examples

Oye, ¿me puedes pasar la sal?

Hey, can you pass me the salt?

Oye, ¿qué hora es?

Hey, what time is it?

Oye, ¿viste eso?

Hey, did you see that?

Oye, ten cuidado.

Hey, be careful.

hey

/ey//ei̯/

InterjectionA1informal
Use 'hey' similarly to 'oye' to get someone's attention in an informal way, especially in casual conversation.
A friendly child gently tapping the shoulder of a friend who is looking away, illustrating the use of 'hey' to get someone's attention.

Examples

¡Hey, espera un momento!

Hey, wait a moment!

¡Hey, mira eso!

Hey, look at that!

Hey, ¿cómo estás?

Hey, how are you?

¡Hey! ¡Cuidado con el coche!

Hey! Watch out for the car!

What's an Interjection?

An interjection is a short word or sound used to express a sudden feeling or to get attention. It stands on its own, often with exclamation marks, like '¡Hey!' or '¡Ay!'

Using 'Hey' in Formal Situations

Mistake: “Using '¡Hey!' to get the attention of a police officer, a professor, or an older person you don't know.”

Correction: In formal situations, use 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) or 'Perdón' (Pardon me). 'Hey' is strictly for friends and casual settings.

mira

/MEE-rah//ˈmi.ɾa/

InterjectionA1informal
Use 'mira' to draw someone's attention to something specific you want them to see, often at the beginning of a sentence.
A friendly person pointing to a beautiful sunset to get someone's attention.

Examples

¡Mira! Hay un perro jugando en el parque.

Look! There's a dog playing in the park.

¡Mira! Un colibrí en el jardín.

Look! A hummingbird in the garden.

Mira, no creo que sea una buena idea ir tan tarde.

Look, I don't think it's a good idea to go so late.

Mira que te lo dije.

See, I told you so.

Confusing it with a command

Mistake: “Thinking 'Mira, no quiero ir' means you are telling the person to physically look at something.”

Correction: When it starts a sentence like this, 'Mira' is a filler word like 'Look' or 'Hey' in English, used to get attention before making a point. You don't actually need to look at anything.

Choosing between 'oye' and 'mira'

Learners often confuse 'oye' and 'mira' because both can start a sentence. Remember that 'oye' is a general attention-getter, while 'mira' specifically means 'look' and points out something to be seen.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.