The spelling in Spanish is sometimes somewhat complex, so that there are words that generate confusion when writing them. Words like “hala” and “ala” that sound exactly the same when pronounced since the “h” is silent, but when written they are different. This is precisely one of the most frequent spelling questions in our language; and not only among children, there are many adults who, when writing a text, doubt whether to write “hala” or “ala”. Below we explain what the differences are between them and when you should use one or the other.
When do you spell wing?
This word is a noun that in Spanish has several meanings that are worth taking into account so as not to have any doubts when writing a text.
- Appendages or organs that some birds use to fly. Example sentence: “The dove had broken its wing, making it impossible for it to fly.”
- Parts of the plane located on both sides of it and that serve to hold it in the air. Example sentence: “When I travel by plane I always try to do it in the seats that are right next to the wing.”
- Parts into which a building is divided on both sides. Example sentence: “My office is located on the right wing of the main company building.”
- Tendency of a certain organization; in most cases, wing is used as a reference to an extreme position. Example sentence: “This program seems to be an initiative of the most radical wing of the organization.”
- In sports, wing is used to refer to one end of the field. Example sentence: “He scored the goal from the right wing.”
There are also several expressions with the word “ala” that are worth noting.
- Hollow out the wing: it is an expression that is used in informal language to refer to the fact of leaving a certain place. Example sentence: «When they struck 12 Pablo he puffed his wing because he said it was getting late».
- Cut the wings: it is a locution that is used to remove some privilege from someone. Example sentence: “Maria’s parents had to clip her wings because every Saturday she went out until late in the morning.”
- Give wings: it is a very common expression to encourage a person to fulfill their dreams: “My mother always gives me wings to go to London to learn English.”
When do you spell hala?
The word hala is an exclamatory interjection that is used in the vast majority of cases to show surprise, for example at a gift that you really liked.
- Hurry up. Example sentence: “Hey, come on, Marta and Ricardo have been waiting for us at the restaurant for 10 minutes.”
- Example sentence: “Whoa! Is this really for me? I loved it!”.
What do you need to write ala or hala?
As you can see, the differences between “hala” and “ala” are notable in terms of meaning; They have nothing to do with it. Although its pronunciation in Spanish is exactly the same, the truth is that the intonation when using both words has nothing to do with it. While “ala” we pronounce it in a totally neutral way, when we say “hala” we do it as an exclamation if it is a surprise or with an angry tone if it is in a hurry.
Therefore, to correctly write both words in a text, you need to pay close attention to how people around you pronounce both words when they do so. You will see how little by little, as soon as you hear “hala” or “ala”, your brain automatically shows you which of the two words it is and, of course, how it is written.
Tips for writing ala or hala
If you want to learn to write “hala” and “ala” correctly once and for all, there are a series of tips that you can follow and that will surely be of great help to you. These are very simple tips that both adults and children can follow.
- Writing: writing is the key to not getting confused between the two words. Every night, just before you go to sleep, spend a few minutes writing three sentences with the word “ala” and another three with the word “hala.”
- Listen: as we have commented in the previous point, “hala” and “ala” are two words that are used quite frequently in our language. Therefore, as soon as you hear someone say it, think about how it is spelled. It will help you a lot to do so.
We hope this explanation has been very useful for you in order to understand the difference between “hala” and “ala“. The confusion between them is quite frequent, especially taking into account that “hala”, despite being a very frequent word in informal spoken language, is hardly used in written language. Taking into account the meanings of both and following the advice we have given you, you will surely be able to differentiate them quickly.