Buenos días
neutral, Guatemala
In Guatemala you say Buenos días in the morning. Friends and shopkeepers also use the short Buenas, which works at any time of day. It is also called Buen día.
Meaning: morning greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | neutral, Guatemala |
| Buen día | casual |
| Buenas | short, any time |
Buenos días is used until about noon. After that people switch to Buenas tardes and later Buenas noches.
When do people say it?
Greeting people you meet in a shop, an elevator or the street is expected in Guatemala, so a quick Buenas goes a long way.
Did you know?
- The phrase ¿Cómo amaneció? literally asks how you woke up and is a polite way to start a morning chat.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, ¿cómo amaneció?Good morning, how did you wake up?
- Buenas, ¿tiene pan?Hello, do you have bread?
- Buen día a todos.Good day, everyone.
Example conversation
Teresa greets the baker Don Mario at a bakery in Cobán.
- TeresaBuenos días, Don Mario.Good morning, Don Mario.
- Don MarioBuenos días, Teresa. ¿Lo de siempre?Good morning, Teresa. The usual?
- TeresaSí, media docena de panes.Yes, half a dozen rolls.
