Picture the gate of a Spanish primary school just before nine. Children wave to friends in the patio and greet the teacher at the door. Before nine o'clock this morning, how many different ways did you say hello? Think of family, friends, teachers, the bus driver. Let's collect four from the class.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Recognise and say eight Spanish greeting phrases
- Pick the right greeting for the time of day
- Spot which ones sound a bit like English
Here are today's eight Spanish greeting phrases, met in two short groups. First come the four time-of-day hellos, then the four that ask how someone is or say nice to meet you. Listen to each one, then say it back together. Listen for the soft h in Hola: it is almost silent, not like the English h in hello. For the how-are-you pair: ¿Cómo estás? is for a friend; ¿Cómo está usted? is for a teacher or other adult. Listen for the extra word usted.
The Spanish words and their meanings are in two columns on the board, and volunteers take it in turns to match them. When a volunteer picks a Spanish word, everyone says it aloud together. You are looking for each Spanish greeting beside its English meaning.
Open your copy. Copy these three greetings and write morning, afternoon or evening beside each one: Buenos días, Buenas tardes, Buenas noches. Then add one more phrase you would also use before lunch, such as Hola or ¿Cómo estás?. Watch the accents carefully while the word-table stays on the board.
You bump into your partner at the school gate. First, watch three short exchanges acted out with a volunteer, then act them out with your partner using the prompts on the board. Take turns so each of you is Partner A and Partner B. One exchange is with a classmate, one is with a teacher in the morning, and one uses an afternoon or evening hello.
💬 Discussion time
In Spain, friends and family often greet each other with 'Hola' and two light kisses on the cheek, one on each side. Watch which way the other person leans first. In many parts of Latin America people also kiss or hug when they greet, though the number of kisses and the custom vary by country. With a shopkeeper or a teacher, a clear Hola or Buenos días is enough; the kisses stay for people you know well.
- Which of today's greetings sounds closest to an English one?
- Would you use two kisses with your teacher, or only Hola / Buenos días? Why?
After today you can:
- Greet a classmate and a teacher in Spanish, and pick a different phrase for morning, afternoon and evening
- Ask someone how they are, and choose the friend version or the adult version
- Spot the greetings that sound a little like English, and the ones you just have to learn
Next lesson we learn how to close a conversation properly instead of walking away.
That was a sample lesson from Spanish for 5th Class
Every lesson in the course is ready to teach like this one. See what else comes with it, and how to order it.
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