Meaning
A greeting used in the afternoon hours.
Cultural Background
In Spain, the afternoon is quite long. You might hear 'Buenas tardes' until 8:00 PM in the summer. Mexicans are very polite with greetings. Always greet the clerk when entering a small store. In Argentina, greetings are often accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, even in the afternoon. Colombians are known for being very formal and polite in their greetings.
The 'S' sound
In many regions, the final 's' is very soft or silent. Don't worry if you don't hear it clearly.
Be polite
Always add a greeting when entering a small business. It is the key to good service.
Meaning
A greeting used in the afternoon hours.
The 'S' sound
In many regions, the final 's' is very soft or silent. Don't worry if you don't hear it clearly.
Be polite
Always add a greeting when entering a small business. It is the key to good service.
Test Yourself
Complete the greeting.
____ tardes, ¿cómo está usted?
Tardes is feminine plural, so it requires 'Buenas'.
Which is the correct greeting for 3:00 PM?
Choose the best option.
3:00 PM is in the afternoon.
Match the time to the greeting.
Match: 9 AM, 3 PM, 10 PM
Greetings follow the time of day.
Complete the dialogue.
Person A: 'Buenas tardes.' Person B: '______.'
It is polite to mirror the greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises____ tardes, ¿cómo está usted?
Tardes is feminine plural, so it requires 'Buenas'.
Choose the best option.
3:00 PM is in the afternoon.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Greetings follow the time of day.
Person A: 'Buenas tardes.' Person B: '______.'
It is polite to mirror the greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral. It works in both formal and informal settings.
Yes, if it is still light outside.
It refers to the duration of the afternoon.
It is fine, but 'Buenas tardes' is more polite.
Yes, it is universal in the Spanish-speaking world.
No, use 'Hasta luego' or 'Adiós'.
No, it is used by everyone.
It depends on the person, but it works with both 'tú' and 'usted'.
Using the singular 'Buena tarde'.
Yes, it is a very common email opening.
Related Phrases
Buenos días
contrastGood morning
Buenas noches
contrastGood night
Buenas
specialized formHi/Hello
Hasta luego
builds onSee you later
