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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/es-buenas-noches

In Spanish, what do you say when greeting someone after dark?

Buenas noches works as both 'good evening' and 'good night'.

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  1. Buenos días
  2. Buenas noches ✔
  3. Buenas tardes

Why: Spanish uses one phrase for both hello and goodnight after dark. Where tardes ends and noches begins varies by country and habit, so follow the locals.

Huh, didn't know that: Spanish uses the plural for all three: días, tardes and noches.

The dad joke
Why did the clock learn Spanish? To say buenas noches right on time.
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References

Answer: Buenas noches. Spanish uses one phrase for both hello and goodnight after dark. Where tardes ends and noches begins varies by country and habit, so follow the locals.

  1. FSI Spanish Basic Course, Volume 1 Student Text (US government, public domain) fsi-language-courses-media.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/languages/Spanish/Basic/Volume%201/Fsi-SpanishBasicCourse-Volume1-StudentText.pdf
    Buenas noches, señorita.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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