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How to Say "what's up?" in Spanish

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tal

taltal

Phrase / InterjectionA1Informal
Use '¿Qué tal?' as a very common and versatile greeting, similar to 'How are you?' or 'What's up?', suitable for most informal and semi-formal situations.
Two friendly people smiling and waving at each other on a sunny street, one asking the other how they are doing.

Examples

¡Hola, Ana! ¿Qué tal?

Hi, Ana! What's up?

¿Qué tal el viaje? ¿Te divertiste?

How was the trip? Did you have fun?

¿Qué tal si vamos al cine esta noche?

How about we go to the movies tonight?

onda

OHN-dahˈon.da

nounB1Informal
Use '¿Qué onda?' primarily as a casual greeting in Mexico and Central America, often implying 'What's going on?' or 'What's new?' among friends.
A stylized drawing of two happy people sitting together, surrounded by bright, warm light and simple shapes suggesting a positive atmosphere.

Examples

¿Qué onda, amigo? ¿Todo bien?

What's up, friend? All good?

El café tiene una onda muy relajada y acogedora.

The coffee shop has a very relaxed and cozy vibe.

¡Qué buena onda eres! Siempre me ayudas.

You're so cool/kind! You always help me.

¡Hola, amigo! ¿Qué onda?

Hey, friend! What's up?

Using 'Onda' as a compliment

When you say someone 'tiene buena onda' or 'es buena onda,' you are saying they are a good, kind, or cool person. It's a very high compliment in informal settings.

Using 'Onda' formally

Mistake: “Using 'onda' in a professional email or formal speech.”

Correction: Always keep 'onda' for casual, friendly conversations. For formal settings, use 'ambiente' (atmosphere) or 'actitud' (attitude).

hb

ah-che-beˌatʃe ˈβe

interjectionB2Very informal, Slang
Use 'hb' (pronounced 'ache be') as a very informal, abbreviated, and modern slang greeting, often seen in texting or online, meaning 'What's up?'.
Two young friends waving to each other with big smiles in a park.

Examples

hb! ¿Cómo va todo por allá?

What's up! How is everything going over there?

¡hb! ¿Cómo va todo por allá?

What's up! How is everything going over there?

hb, causa, ¿qué me cuentas de nuevo?

What's up, man, what's new with you?

Oye hb, ¿por qué no viniste a la fiesta?

Hey, talk to me, why didn't you come to the party?

A Shortcut for 'Habla'

This is a text-speak version of 'Habla,' which is the command form of 'to speak.' In slang, it functions as a greeting rather than an order.

Purely Informal

Because this is an abbreviation of slang, never use it in written letters, emails, or with people you don't know very well.

Pronunciation in Person

Mistake: “Saying 'hb' out loud in a conversation.”

Correction: People usually say the full word 'Habla' when speaking face-to-face; 'hb' is mostly for typing.

Confusing 'tal' and 'onda' greetings

Learners often mistake '¿Qué tal?' and '¿Qué onda?' as interchangeable. While both are greetings, '¿Qué tal?' is universally understood, whereas '¿Qué onda?' is regional (Mexico/Central America) and can sound out of place elsewhere. Stick to '¿Qué tal?' if unsure.

Related Translations

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