buenas tardes
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/
buenas tardes is the Spanish way to say "good afternoon".
buenas tardes is a common formal greeting for the afternoon used from around 1 p.m. until evening. While it serves as a greeting when arriving, it is also used as a way to say goodbye when leaving someone in the afternoon.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "good afternoons" because both buenas and tardes are feminine and plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/
Did you know?
- The word tarde comes from the Latin word 'tardus', meaning 'slow', which is also the root of the English word 'tardy'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying buenas tardes is often accompanied by a single kiss on the cheek or two, depending on the country, even between people who have just met.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the transition from buenos días to buenas tardes is signaled by the time people eat lunch, which is often much later than in English-speaking countries.
Examples in context
- Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.This example shows the phrase used as a standard greeting.Tatoeba #872348 by japegon, translation #499689 by CK
- ¡Buenas tardes!Good afternoon!This example shows the phrase used as an enthusiastic greeting.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 example shows the phrase used as a greeting when meeting a new neighbor.Tatoeba #872335 by japegon, translation #871529 by CM
- Buenas tardes, señor García. ¿Cómo está usted hoy?Good afternoon, Mr. Garcia. How are you today?
- Hola, ¿cómo está? Espero que tenga una tarde agradable.Hello, how are you? I hope you have a pleasant afternoon.
- Espero que esté teniendo una buena tarde, señora Martínez.I hope you're having a good afternoon, Mrs. Martinez.
- ¡Hola Juan! ¡Buenas tardes! ¿Cómo te ha ido hoy?Hi Juan! Good afternoon! How's your day been?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro meet in a building lobby during the afternoon.
- ElenaBuenas tardes, Alejandro.Good afternoon, Alejandro.
- AlejandroBuenas tardes, Elena. ¿Cómo estás?Good afternoon, Elena. How are you?
- ElenaMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.
- AlejandroMe 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
