encantado de conocerte
/enkantado de konoθeɾte/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "good to meet you" is expressed as encantado de conocerte.
This phrase is a polite expression used when meeting someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase encantado de conocerte literally translates to "enchanted to know you".
Which one should you use?
While encantado de conocerte is a full phrase, mucho gusto is a shorter, very common alternative that is gender-neutral and translates to "much pleasure".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Encantado/a de conocerte is a commonly used phrase to say "Good to meet you". In Mexico, you might hear Gusto en conocerte or Gusto en saludarte.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, the phrase changes from encantado de conocerte to encantada de conocerte.
When do people say it?
The most common way to respond to encantado de conocerte is to say igualmente (likewise).
Did you know?
- While encantado is used here as 'pleased', its literal root refers to a spell or magic. In other contexts, it can describe a 'haunted' house or a 'bewitched' person.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase mucho gusto is often accompanied by a light handshake or a single cheek kiss, depending on the gender and formality of the meeting.
- If you want to sound more formal when meeting a superior or an elder, you should change the end of the phrase from conocerte to conocerle. This small change from the informal 'te' to the formal 'le' respects the person's status.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola! Soy Juan. Mucho gusto.Hi! I'm Juan. Nice to meet you.
- ¡Hola, Juan! Encantada de conocerte.Hi, Juan! Nice to meet you.
- Mucho gusto, encantado de conocerte.Nice to meet you, glad to meet you.
- Hola, soy Carlos, encantado de conocerte.Hello, I am Carlos, nice to meet you.
- Es un placer, encantado de conocerte.It is a pleasure, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Alejandro introduces himself to Lucía at a social gathering.
- AlejandroHola, soy Alejandro, encantado de conocerte.Hello, I am Alejandro, nice to meet you.
- LucíaEncantada de conocerte también, Alejandro.Nice to meet you too, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Vienes mucho por aquí?Do you come here often?
- LucíaNo, es mi primera vez.No, it is my first time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
