buenas tardes
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/
In Spanish, good afternoon is buenas tardes.
buenas tardes is a greeting used in the afternoon. It is the most common and widely used expression for good afternoon in Spain.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'good afternoons', as both buenas and tardes are in the feminine plural form.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'good afternoon' which is often a statement, buenas tardes is frequently used as a standalone greeting or a way to say both 'hello' and 'good afternoon' simultaneously.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/
Did you know?
- The exact time to switch from buenos días to buenas tardes varies by culture, but in many regions, the shift happens only after the midday meal, which can be as late as 3 PM.
- In casual settings, speakers often shorten the phrase to just buenas. This serves as a generic greeting that works regardless of whether it is morning, afternoon or evening.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying buenas tardes is expected not just when arriving, but also when leaving a shop or a room.
Examples in context
- Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.Tatoeba #872348 by japegon, translation #499689 by CK
- ¡Buenas tardes!Good afternoon!Tatoeba #778583 by marloncori, translation #3552554 by Meruert
- Buenas tardes. Tú eres nuestro nuevo vecino, si no me equivoco.Good afternoon. You are our new neighbor, if I'm not mistaken?This sentence uses buenas tardes to greet a new neighbor.Tatoeba #872335 by japegon, translation #871529 by CM
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier meets María at a cafe in the afternoon.
- JavierBuenas tardes, María.Good afternoon, María.
- MaríaHola, Javier. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, Javier. How are you?
- JavierMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
- MaríaMe alegro mucho.I am very glad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations and entries buenas tardes, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buenas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
