Hispanic dancers will often say “Hola” when they approach customers. Even here in the Northeast it happens a lot.
But do they not know basic English words like “Hi” or “Hi baby” (in which case how did they even get hired), or do they assume that “Hola” is a universal greeting understood by everyone including Americans, so they don’t need to bother with a different greeting?
Or, do they only greet Hispanic-looking customers with “Hola,” whereas American-looking ones are greeted with a “Hi” based on physical appearance?
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It's generally (a) "wanna dance?" or (b) non-verbal hello via special handshake. I'm not sure even Native English-speaking dancers approach with a greeting of "hi".
I usually get papi or baby, have never gotten hola.
Long ago there was this pope, who picked out a longitude line, and said everything West of it was the hola side. You are West of it, so quit complaining, or you're going to Hell. Or maybe just Purgatory, since it was a pope and not Jerry Falwell.
East of the line it still sounds the same, even if they drop the pretense of an H.
It's supposed to be a silent h.
Since OP seems to know what hola means, what’s the problem if you’re greeted with it?
Do you resemble Johnny Ola from Godfather II?
They might just be saying it out of habit. That or they think it adds a little bit of flavor and exoticness.
They know that many guys fetishize Latinas and are advertising from the jump. Or they're hoping you reply in Spanish because they don't speak English beyond "Ju wannn danz Papi?"
It's for the guys under 50, who dreamed of porking Dora the Explorer from when they first sprouted pubs.
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