Hola

/ˈoʊlə/ interjection

Definition

Spanish greeting meaning 'hello' or 'hi,' commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries and beyond.

Etymology

From Spanish, possibly from Latin 'illāc' (that) or from an exclamation. The word became standard in Spanish for greeting sometime in the early modern period.

Kelly Says

Hola is one of the first Spanish words English speakers learn, but its origin is mysterious—it might come from Latin or might be purely Spanish, and it shows how greetings are among the oldest and most important words in any language.

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