Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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And what exactly is used and why?? Also why are electrical appliances so expensive in Mexico?

Jul 19, 2006, 1:50 PM

Post #2 of 17 (5098 views)

Re: [maylane] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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The word that's most often used for answering the telephone is 'Bueno', pronounced with a rising inflection like a question.

'Hola' is not actually 'hello'. It's more like 'hi' and is used as a salutation among your pals and frequently among young people.

Sometimes a phone conversation will start like this:

Ring, ring...

¿Bueno? ¿Quién habla?
Soy yo, tu prima Angélica. ¿Cómo estás?
Hola, qué tal Angélica. Aquí todo bién, ¿y con ustedes?

Why is 'bueno' used? Custom. Why is 'prego' used in Italy? Same reason.

The question about appliances should be asked again, on another forum.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Jul 21, 2006, 5:30 AM

Post #3 of 17 (5063 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Hola seems to be ubiquitous in Ajijic. Is it not proper to say it to older people one passes? I would imagine if so, that Buenas --- is the proper greeting.

How does one know when tarde becomes noche?

Is buenas dias generally pronounced more like "buen di" by native speakers?

When, if ever, should one use "adios" as a greeting to passers by?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Jul 21, 2006, 5:52 AM

Post #4 of 17 (5059 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Here's how greetings work:

Buenos días: daybreak until noon (And yes, it is buenOs días...día is a masculine noun)

Buenas tardes: noon until about 7 PM, or a bit later during the summer when night falls later

Buenas noches: 7 PM (or a bit later) till morning

You'll hear various short forms of these three greetings, but stick with what's written above. Some of the short forms are similar to a native English-speaker saying "Morning!" rather than "Good morning". Some are rural colloquialisms. It's important to learn correct usage. While it's not exactly incorrect to say 'hola', it's pretty slang-y and I wouldn't say 'hola' to someone I didn't know well or to an elderly person passing by in the street.

Adios: often used as a greeting in passing, a 'hello' and 'goodbye' mixed into one, particularly used in rural areas. This form of salutation is fading out in urban centers.

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(This post was edited by esperanza on Jul 21, 2006, 5:57 AM)

Jul 21, 2006, 11:40 AM

Post #5 of 17 (5043 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Thanks for the information. I was thinking about that this morning when several Mexicans said "hola" to me. I guess I just look like an insignificant person.

I forgot that el dia was masculine. Again, thanks.

Hasta Luego.

maylane

Jul 21, 2006, 11:45 AM

Post #6 of 17 (5041 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Thanks Esperanza.....

Jul 21, 2006, 7:25 PM

Post #7 of 17 (5024 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Here's my opinion about why so many Mexicans in Ajijic greet foreigners by saying 'hola'. This is just my two cents worth, so please don't anybody take it as gospel truth. I think that Ajijic Mexicans hear foreigners saying 'hola' to THEM so much that they've taken it up themselves.

I'm kind of a stickler for old-fashioned usage and prefer to talk about what's used in most places in Mexico. YMMV.

And good grief, dlyman, you know better than to think you're an insignificant person. You're a TERRIFIC person, and so is your lovely wife.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jul 21, 2006, 7:27 PM)

Jul 22, 2006, 6:51 AM

Post #8 of 17 (5007 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Of course she is and I am. I just play an insignificant person in person.

I'm really sorry this came up. Yesterday I was walking my dogs in the village and automatically said "hola" to a wide variety of people. It may be somewhat hard to get used to not using "hola," though I have been using BuenOs dias/tardes/noches a lot already.

Since we travel a lot, it is a good thing to make the effort. You are probably right about the reason that "hola" is ubiquitous in Ajijic. In other towns where gringos don't swarm, it might not be accepted.

Speaking of things that are accepted in Mexican communities as opposed to communities with significant ex-pat populations, I ran into an interesting situation a couple of days ago.

I have a friend who always wears shorts. He also lives among primarily Mexicans and interacts constantly with his Mexican friends and neighbors. One of his friends is taking him to a community where "no gringos ever go." He warned my friend not to wear shorts as it is not accepted.

We had this discussion some time ago and never got any closure, but I'm not trying to start it up again. I just found it interesting that his friend considered shorts not proper in strictly Mexican non coastal towns.

I sure was wishing I had shorts as I was driving up and down the west coast last week in 100-118 degree heat in Levis.

Georgia

Jul 23, 2006, 11:05 AM

Post #9 of 17 (4970 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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"Adios" is still used here in El Chante when passing by someone and you don't plan to stop and chat. Same in Spain, actually, where, when they answer the telephone say "Digame" -- which I always found rather abrupt. In South America they might say "?Que hubo?" "?Que tal?" But -- at least for the last 50 years, in Mexico they always say, "bueno." Because ..... that's just how it is. (Maybe they are commenting on their amazement that the telephone connection worked??!!)

Jul 23, 2006, 11:36 AM

Post #10 of 17 (4967 views)

Re: [Georgia] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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We experienced a different greeting in Spain. We were walking down the sidewalk on a very narrow street in a mountain town. Cars were covering the street so we could not walk in the street if needed.

Several raspberry haired crones were standing blocking the sidewalk and watched us wait politely for them to move - they did not, so my wife formed her hands into a snowplow and started through saying "beep, beep, beep."

They were so surprised that they actually moved aside. Then, realizing what they had done, they chaqsed us down the street screaming "puta."

I guess that is adios in that mountain town. Very nice of them to greet us so enthusiastically.

PS Please excuse my use of the vulgarity above. The story doesn't have any point without it.

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on Jul 23, 2006, 11:37 AM)

jerezano

Jul 23, 2006, 7:05 PM

Post #11 of 17 (4947 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Hello, Bueno, Dígame or what have you.

Quote>>>...so my wife formed her hands into a snowplow and started through saying "beep, beep, beep." <<<End quote

Space! If you think we Americans can be obnoxious when our space is invaded, then be careful about invading space of any Hispanic.

True, one can approach closer, stand closer, touch, etc an Hispanic even if a stranger with much more impunity than we ever could in the USA. But--if you invade his/her "honor". Woe be it!

Your wife could have obtained the same effect with a very polite "Con Permiso. To make a game out of it with the snowplow and the beep! beep! beep! turned all those dignified,adult mujeres into thoughtless, chicas atravesadas. No wonder they used the P___ word.

One thing to always remember here in México is that physical nearness is not usually a problem, but an affront to dignity or honor can lead to war.

Adiós. jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Jul 23, 2006, 7:08 PM)

Jul 24, 2006, 5:51 AM

Post #12 of 17 (4930 views)

Re: [jerezano] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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Thanks for the suggestion. It might have worked, but we had been standing politely for two minutes waiting and they were obviously aware that we wanted to pass. Perhaps magic words might have worked, but I'm not at all sure.

There is no doubt that my wife's approach was impolite, and I'm not recommending it. I was only pointing out that for that small village, "Puta" seems to take the place of "hola," etc.

Sick humor.

caldwelld

Jul 24, 2006, 9:15 AM

Post #13 of 17 (4921 views)

Re: [esperanza] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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You seem to insist on "buenos dias" but one has to admit that it makes no sense gramatically, in as much as there is only one day and one greeting in question. I was told by a well educated native Mexicana that there was a debate about this (whether uniquely in Mexico or across the hispanic world I am unsure) some years back and it was determined that "buen dia" was equally acceptable and, in fact, more correct gramatically speaking. Thus, she said, both are acceptable in Mx although "buen dia" is gathering steam as the most common morning greeting as it is now taught in schools. What say you Esperanza?
dondon

Jul 24, 2006, 1:22 PM

Post #14 of 17 (4900 views)

Re: [caldwelld] Why Hola is not used when answering the telephone?

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I say that buenos días makes just as much sense as buenas tardes and buenas noches. Yes, occasionally people do say buen día as a greeting, but I've never heard anyone say buena tarde or buena noche unless either is preceded by 'que tenga'.

Que tenga buen día.

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quevedo

Jul 24, 2006, 5:25 PM

Post #15 of 17 (4887 views)

Re: [maylane] Hola is used...

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... in other Spanish speaking countries. Why Bueno! is used in México? Perhaps to indicate that indeed the telephone connection is OK, buena.

Bueno, hola y saludos,

Quevedo

mparrino

Jul 25, 2006, 1:24 PM

Post #16 of 17 (4859 views)

Re: [quevedo] Hola is used...

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I've also heard "Pronto" used, but can't remember if it was in Spain or Mexico.
Marcia

quevedo

Jul 25, 2006, 10:20 PM

Post #17 of 17 (4839 views)