Buenos días
standard, Panama
In Panama you say Buenos días for "good morning". Buenas is the casual shortening, and ¿Cómo amaneció? politely asks how someone slept.
Meaning: morning greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | standard, Panama |
| Buenas | casual |
| ¿Cómo amaneció? | polite |
Buenos días is the standard until noon. Panamanians usually greet shopkeepers and neighbors with it when they enter or pass by.
Which one should you use?
People in Panama often use usted in the morning with older people: ¿Cómo amaneció, doña?
How does it change in a sentence?
Amaneció is the usted form. Use ¿Cómo amaneciste? for a friend.
Did you know?
- Spanish says buenos días in the plural because the greeting wishes good days, not just one day.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, ¿cómo amaneció?Good morning, how did you wake up?
- Buenas, vecino.Morning, neighbor.
- Buenos días a todos.Good morning, everyone.
Example conversation
Vendor Doña Nilsa greets her customer Roberto at a fruit stand in Panama City.
- Doña NilsaBuenos días, Roberto. ¿Cómo amaneció?Good morning, Roberto. How did you wake up?
- RobertoBien, doña Nilsa. ¿Y usted?Well, Doña Nilsa. And you?
- Doña NilsaMuy bien, gracias a Dios.Very well, thank God.
