buenas tardes
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/feminine, plural
The English phrase "good evening" is translated into Spanish using buenas tardes or buenas noches depending on the time of day. Wiktionary also lists buenos vésperos.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buenas tardes | /ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/ | feminine, plural |
| buenas noches | /ˌbwenas ˈnot͡ʃes/ | feminine, plural |
| buenos vésperos | /bwenos bespeɾos/ (from spelling rules) | masculine, plural |
Buenas tardes is used from after midday until sunset or dark. Buenas noches is used during the night. Unlike English, where "good night" is almost exclusively a farewell, buenas noches is used as a greeting upon arrival in the evening.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase buenas noches literally translates to "good nights".
Which one should you use?
Use buenas tardes for the afternoon and early evening (from after midday until sunset or dark). Use buenas noches during the night.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase buenas noches is feminine and plural, so the adjective bueno changes to buenas to match the feminine plural noun noches.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwenas ˈtaɾdes/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'good evening' which is almost always spoken, buenas noches is frequently accompanied by a double kiss on the cheeks in Spain.
- In some regions, using buenas noches too early in the evening can be perceived as a subtle hint that it is time for the guests to leave.
- It is common to simply say buenas as a shorthand greeting in casual settings, which is an ellipsis of buenas tardes.
Examples in context
- Buenas tardes, ¿cómo estás?Good evening, how are you?This sentence shows how to use buenas tardes in a greeting.Tatoeba #745023 by Shishir, translation #413820 by Dorenda
- Buenas tardes. Me gustaría un vaso de leche entera.Good evening. I'd like a glass of whole milk.This sentence shows how to use buenas tardes when making a request.Tatoeba #9726742 by arh, translation #3499041 by danepo
- ¡Buenas noches!Good evening!This sentence shows how to use buenas noches as a greeting.Tatoeba #528431 by Shishir, translation #2265983 by _undertoad
- Buenas noches, señor Ramírez.Good evening, Mr. Ramírez.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena meet at a cafe in the late afternoon.
- JavierBuenas tardes, Elena. ¿Cómo vas?Good evening, Elena. How are you doing?
- ElenaBuenas tardes, Javier. Todo bien, gracias.Good evening, Javier. Everything is fine, thank you.
- Javier¿Quieres tomar un café conmigo?Do you want to have a coffee with me?
- ElenaSí, me encantaría.Yes, I would love to.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good evening” translations and entries buenas tardes, buenas noches, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buenas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
