buenos días a ti
/bwenos dias a ti/from spelling rules
The English phrase "good morning to you" is translated into Spanish as buenos días a ti.
This phrase is used to wish someone a pleasant start to their day. The shorter form Buenos días. is a common and neutral way to say "good morning" in Spanish used in formal situations.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "good days to you" because días is plural in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American regions, you may encounter the singular alternative buen día used as a greeting instead of the standard buenos días.
Did you know?
- While buenos días is the standard greeting, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is customary to accompany the phrase with a single kiss on the cheek or a handshake when meeting friends and family.
- The word ti in buenos días a ti is derived from the Latin word tibi, which was used specifically for the indirect object of a gift or wish.
- If you want to sound extra polite or enthusiastic, you can add the word muy to the phrase, saying muy buenos días to effectively wish someone 'very good days'.
Example conversation
Two colleagues meet in the office kitchen.
- Sofía¡Hola, Alejandro! Buenos días a ti.Hello, Alejandro! Good morning to you.
- AlejandroHola, Sofía. Muchas gracias.Hello, Sofia. Thank you very much.
- Sofía¡Que tengas un gran día!Have a great day!
- AlejandroIgualmente para ti, Sofía.Likewise for you, Sofia.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, ti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
