How to Use Basic Greetings

Learn how to use basic greetings

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Spanish by SpanishPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use basic greetings in Spanish.

For example, "Good afternoon" is

buenas tardes

Sonia Hernandez Acevedo is the Hurtado family's Spanish teacher.

Her schedule for the day is:

Valeria Varela at 9:00 a.m.

Catalina Hurtado at 12:00 p.m.

Lucas Hurtado at 6:00 p.m.

Before you listen to the greeting exchange between the three pairs, let's preview some of its key components.

buenos días

"good morning"

buenos días

buenas tardes

"good afternoon"

buenas tardes

buenas noches

"good evening"

buenas noches

Listen to their conversations, and pay attention to the time of day.

Sonia Hernandez Acevedo has a morning class with Valeria Varela at 9 a.m.

Buenos días, profesora Hernández.

Buenos días, señora Varela.

Later, Sonia Hernandez Acevedo has an afternoon class with Catalina Hurtado at 12 p.m.

Buenas tardes.

At the end of the day, Sonia Hernandez Acevedo has an evening class with Lucas Hurtado at 6 p.m.

Buenas noches, profesora.

Buenas noches, Lucas.

Once more with the English translation.

Buenos días, profesora Hernández.

"Good morning, Mrs. Hernandez."

Buenos días, señora Varela.

"Good morning, Mrs. Varela."

Buenas tardes.

"Good afternoon."

Buenas tardes.

"Good afternoon."

Buenas noches, profesora.

"Good evening, teacher."

Buenas noches, Lucas.

"Good evening, Lucas."

Let’s take a closer look at each of these expressions.

In the first conversation, do you remember how Valeria says,

"Good morning, Mrs. Hernandez?"

Buenos días, profesora Hernández.

First is Buenos días, "Good morning." Buenos días.

Let’s start with días, "days." Días. Días.

In Spanish, all nouns have grammatical gender and are either singular or plural. Días is masculine and plural — a fact that will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Next is buenos, "good." Buenos. Buenos.

Buenos is masculine and plural to agree with Días.

Together, Buenos días literally means “good days,” but it translates as "good morning” in this context. Buenos días.

This is the standard greeting during the morning. Buenos días.

Next is profesora, meaning “teacher.” Since it can also be used as a form of direct address, here "Mrs." is used in the English translation instead. Profesora. Profesora.

Profesora is feminine singular.

Finally, the teacher’s family name, Hernández. Hernández. Hernández.

Together, profesora Hernández. “Mrs. Hernandez.” Profesora Hernández.

All together, Buenos días, profesora Hernández. "Good morning, Mrs. Hernandez."

Buenos días, profesora Hernández.

When including a person’s name in a greeting, it’s more common to say the person’s name after the greeting.

Note, using a person’s family name in a greeting may come across as more formal.

Do you remember the teacher’s response?

“Good morning, Mrs. Varela.”

Buenos días, señora Varela.

First is buenos días. "Good morning." buenos días.

Next is señora meaning "Mrs." señora. señora.

This is an honorific for women. It’s similar to the term "Mrs." in English.

Finally, Valeria’s family name in Spanish. Varela. Varela. Varela.

All together, it’s, Buenos días, señora Varela. Literally, “Good days, Mrs. Varela,” but translates as "Good morning, Mrs. Varela."

Buenos días, señora Varela.

Note, this exchange is formal.

In the second conversation, which takes place at noon, do you remember how Catalina says,

"Good afternoon?"

Buenas tardes.

Note that Catalina’s greeting is slightly less formal, as she doesn’t say the teacher’s name.

Buenas tardes. "Good afternoon." Buenas tardes.

Let’s start with tardes "afternoon." Tardes. Tardes.

Tardes is feminine and plural — a fact that will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Next is Buenas "good." Buenas. Buenas.

Buenas is feminine and plural to agree with, tardes.

Together, Buenas tardes, literally means "Good afternoons," but it translates as "Good afternoon."

Buenas tardes.

The teacher 's response is the same,

Buenas tardes.

Buenas tardes, "Good afternoon." Buenas tardes.

Buenas tardes is a common way to greet people during the day. You can use it in formal and less formal situations.

All together, it’s, Buenas tardes. "Good afternoon."

Buenas tardes.

In the third conversation, which takes place in the evening at 6 p.m., do you remember how Lucas says,

"Good evening, teacher."

Buenas noches, profesora.

First is Buenas noches. "Good evening." Buenas noches.

Let’s start with noches, "nights." Noches. Noches.

Noches is feminine and plural — a fact that will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Next is Buenas, "good." Buenas. Buenas.

Buenas is feminine and plural to agree with noches.

Together, Buenas noches, literally means "Good nights," but it translates as "Good night." This is the standard greeting during the evening. Buenas noches.

After this is, profesora, "teacher." Profesora.

This is the feminine, singular form of the word, profesor. Adding her title increases the formality of the greeting.

All together it’s Buenas noches, profesora. "Good evening, teacher."

Buenas noches, profesora.

Do you remember how the teacher replies,

"Good evening, Lucas."

Buenas noches, Lucas.

First is Buenas noches. "Good evening." Buenas noches.

After this is Lucas’s name in Spanish. Lucas. Lucas. Lucas.

Since he is a young adult, she refers to him by his first name.

All together, it’s, Buenas noches, Lucas. "Good evening, Lucas."

Buenas noches, Lucas.

The greeting Buenos días is used during the morning, from early in the day until around 11:45am or so. Buenas tardes is used from around 12 pm, until it gets dark. Usually, until 6:45pm or so. Buenas noches is used after the sunset. Usually, from 6 pm.

In this lesson, Valeria is addressed as "señora Varela." Señora is an honorific used for married women.

To address an unmarried woman there’s another honorific señorita, meaning "Miss." Señorita.

The word Señor, meaning “Mr.,” is used to address adult men in general, similar to the way "Mr." is used in English.

In work environments or when the situation is formal, it’s common in Mexico to use job titles if they’re known. In this lesson, for example, Valeria called her teacher Profesora Hernández.

Let’s look at the greetings once more.

Listen and repeat, or speak along.

Buenos días.

"Good morning."

Buenos días.

Buenas tardes.

"Good afternoon."

Buenas tardes.

Buenas noches.

"Good evening."

Buenas noches.

Buenas tardes, señora Varela.

"Good morning, Mrs. Varela."

Buenas tardes, señora Varela.

Buenas noches, profesora.

"Good evening, teacher."

Buenas noches, profesora.

Hola, buenos días.

"Hi, good morning."

Hola, buenos días.

Did you notice how the native speaker added the word Hola before Buenos días?

The greeting Hola, means, "Hello." Hola. Hola.

This is the most basic way to say, "Hello." It’s the most common greeting.

Pronunciation note, the h is silent. Hola.

You can use this greeting alone, Hola, or you can combine this greeting with other greetings you have learned. For example,

Hola, buenos días. “Hi, good morning.” Hola, buenos días.

Hola, buenas tardes. “Hi, good afternoon.” Hola, buenas tardes.

Let’s review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speakers, focusing on pronunciation. Ready?

Do you remember how to say,

"Good morning."

Buenos días.

And how to say,

"Good afternoon."

Buenas tardes.

Do you remember how to say,

"Good evening."

Buenas noches.

Do you remember the feminine word for teacher?

Profesora.

Let's practice.

Imagine you’re Lucas Hurtado , and you’re attending your morning class.

Respond to your female teacher by saying “Good morning, teacher.”

Ready?

Buenos días, Lucas.

Buenos días, profesora.

Listen again and repeat.

Buenos días, profesora.

Let’s try another.

Imagine you are Valeria Valera , and you’re attending your afternoon class.

Respond by saying, “Good afternoon.”

Ready?

Buenas tardes.

Listen again and repeat.

Buenas tardes.

Let’s try one more.

Now, imagine you are Valeria Valera , and you see your neighbor in the evening.

Respond by saying, "Good evening."

Ready?

Buenas noches.

Listen again and repeat.

Buenas noches.

This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to use basic greetings in Spanish. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of using basic greetings.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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