Buenas tardes
standard
In Puerto Rico "good afternoon" is Buenas tardes. People often shorten it to just Buenas.
Meaning: afternoon greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Buenas tardes | standard |
| Buenas | casual, Puerto Rico |
Buenas tardes is used from noon until the evening. It works when entering a shop, answering the phone or greeting colleagues.
How do you pronounce it?
On the island the final s is often soft, so Buenas tardes may sound like "BWEH-nah TAR-deh".
Did you know?
- Midday meals are the main meal in many Puerto Rican households, so the afternoon greeting begins early in the day.
Examples in context
- Buenas tardes, señora.Good afternoon, ma'am.
- Buenas, ¿cómo le va?Good afternoon, how are you?
- Buenas tardes a todos.Good afternoon everyone.
Example conversation
Lucía greets the receptionist Doña Maribel at a clinic in Ponce after lunch.
- LucíaBuenas tardes, Doña Maribel.Good afternoon, Doña Maribel.
- Doña MaribelBuenas tardes, ¿en qué la ayudo?Good afternoon, how can I help you?
- LucíaTengo una cita a las dos.I have an appointment at two.
