Buen provecho
/bwen pɾobet͡ʃo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "have a good meal" is Buen provecho.
Buen provecho is used to wish someone an enjoyable experience while eating. It is commonly used as a polite greeting when entering a room where others are already eating, or as a way to wish people a good meal as you leave them.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Buen provecho means "good benefit" or "good profit", implying that the food should provide nourishment and benefit to the body.
Which one should you use?
While Buen provecho is the standard, Que aproveche is a very common alternative used in many Spanish-speaking regions. You may also encounter ¡Que lo disfrutes!, which specifically means "enjoy it" or ¡Que te aproveche!, which translates to "may it be advantageous to you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, you may hear the variations ¡Provechito! or ¡Buen provecho, compadre!
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered polite to say Buen provecho to people who are already eating, even if you do not know them personally.
Did you know?
- The word provecho is a cognate of the English word 'profit'. Both share a common ancestor in the Latin word prōfectus, which meant progress or success.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is socially acceptable and polite to say Buen provecho to a complete stranger in a restaurant as you walk past their table.
- Using ¡Buen provecho, compadre! adds a layer of familial or deep friendship, as compadre refers to a specific social bond between a parent and a godparent.
Examples in context
- Buen provecho a todos.Enjoy your meal, everyone.
- Muchas gracias, buen provecho.Thank you very much, enjoy your meal.
- Buen provecho, la comida está deliciosa.Enjoy your meal, the food is delicious.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are sitting down to eat lunch together.
- ElenaLa comida se ve deliciosa. ¡Buen provecho!The food looks delicious. Enjoy your meal!
- DanielMuchas gracias, Elena.Thank you very much, Elena.
- Elena¿Quieres probar un poco de mi ensalada?Do you want to try some of my salad?
- DanielSí, me encantaría. Gracias.Yes, I would love to. Thanks.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buen, provecho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
