Give each expression a purpose
“Hola” is a general greeting. “Buenos días” is used in the morning, while “Buenas tardes” and “Buenas noches” fit later contexts. “Gracias” expresses thanks. Learn these as useful expressions rather than translating each word in isolation.
Notice the written and spoken form
The h in “hola” is silent. Written Spanish also uses an opening question mark in a question, as in “¿Cómo estás?” Seeing the complete expression helps you recognize its purpose before you know every word. Pronunciation varies across Spanish-speaking regions, so use a reliable spoken model when practicing sound.
Common misunderstanding: one English word, one Spanish word
A natural expression is not always built by translating English word for word. “Buenos días” has a plural form, but functions as the ordinary morning greeting. Focus on the expression, its situation, and the response it invites.
Worked example
A brief greeting
A familiar exchange might be: “¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?” followed by “Bien, gracias.” The first speaker greets the other person and asks how they are; the reply says they are well and gives thanks. Start by understanding the exchange before adding more detail.