¡buenas tardes! ¿cómo estás?
The English phrase "good afternoon! How are you?" is translated into Spanish as ¡buenas tardes! ¿cómo estás?
This phrase is a friendly greeting used during the afternoon to acknowledge someone and ask about their well-being. The term tardes refers to the period from after lunch, typically around 2:00 PM, until sunset.
What does it mean word for word?
The greeting buenas tardes is literally "good afternoons", which uses the plural form of both the adjective and the noun. The word buenas is the feminine plural form of bueno.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ¿cómo estás? uses the informal tú conjugation. If you are in a formal situation, you must switch to the form ¿cómo está usted?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the singular form buen tarde, which is an error. You should always use the standard plural buenas tardes.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with this phrase, a common response is bien, gracias. ¿y tú? (well, thanks. And you?).
Did you know?
- The word tardes shares a root with the English word 'tardy', as both derive from the Latin 'tardus' meaning slow.
- When greeting someone with this phrase in parts of Latin America, you might be met with a single kiss on the cheek or a light hug. This physical contact is often a standard part of the greeting, even in semi-formal situations.
- While buenas tardes is the standard, some speakers use the shortened buenas as a generic greeting that can be used at any time of the day or night.
Examples in context
- ¡Buenas tardes! ¿Cómo estás?Good afternoon! How are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buenas, cómo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
