buen viaje en coche
/bwen bjaxe en kot͡ʃe/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'have a safe drive' is expressed as buen viaje en coche.
This phrase is used to wish someone a safe journey specifically when they are traveling by car.
Which one should you use?
The phrase buen viaje en coche specifically mentions the car, whereas the shorter version buen viaje is much more common and can be used regardless of whether the person is driving, flying or traveling by train.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase Que tengas un buen trayecto is used to mean 'Have a good journey'.
How does it change in a sentence?
A more natural way to express the sentiment of 'have a safe drive' is to use the subjunctive mood with que, such as que tengas un buen viaje for informal use or que tenga un buen viaje for formal use.
Did you know?
- The word coche is a distant relative of the English word 'coach'. Both terms trace back to the Hungarian village of Kocs, where the first horse-drawn vehicles with advanced suspension were made.
- While 'have a safe drive' focuses on safety, a common way to wish someone well in Spanish is simply to use the verb 'to arrive' in a wish, such as que llegues bien, meaning 'may you arrive well'.
- Spanish uses the word viaje for any trip, but it can also describe a 'trip' in the sense of a drug-induced hallucination, similar to the English slang.
Examples in context
- Sr. Rodriguez, que tenga un viaje seguro hacia su destino.Mr. Rodriguez, have a safe journey to your destination.
- Sra. Gomez, le deseo un buen viaje. Que regrese sana y salva.Mrs. Gomez, I wish you a good journey. May you return safe and sound.
- Amigo, ten cuidado en el camino y avísame cuando llegues.Friend, be careful on the road and let me know when you arrive.
Example conversation
Daniel is leaving María's house to drive home.
- MaríaYa me voy, María.I'm leaving now, María.
- DanielEstá bien, Daniel. ¡Buen viaje en coche!All right, Daniel. Have a safe drive!
- MaríaMuchas gracias.Thank you very much.
- DanielAvísame cuando llegues.Let me know when you arrive.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buen, coche, en, viaje, CC BY-SA 4.0.
