Good night in Spanish is buenas noches (BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs). It also means good evening, so you say it when you arrive somewhere after dark as well as when you leave or head to bed. Before dark, the greeting is buenas tardes. At bedtime, people often add que descanses (rest well) or hasta mañana (see you tomorrow).
- Good night / good evening
- buenas noches
- Before dark
- buenas tardes
- Rest well
- que descanses
- Sweet dreams
- dulces sueños
- Level
- A1
Does buenas noches mean good evening or good night?
Both. English has a greeting for arriving in the evening and another for parting at night; Spanish uses buenas noches for the two. Walk into a restaurant at ten and the waiter says buenas noches; leave at midnight and you say it again on the way out.
The line between tarde and noche is darkness rather than a time on the clock. In a Spanish winter it is dark by around six; in midsummer, the light can last until after nine, and buenas tardes lasts with it.
| Spanish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon, good evening | Daylight after lunch |
| Buenas noches | Good evening, good night | After dark, arriving or leaving |
| Buenas | Evening! / Hi | Casual, at any hour |
| Hasta mañana | See you tomorrow | Leaving for the night |
What do Spanish speakers say at bedtime?
Bedtime wishes start with que plus a verb in the subjunctive, a pattern that means "may you…". Que descanses (may you rest) is the most common of all; Spanish uses descansar where English would say sleep well.
Buenas noches, que descanses.
Good night, sleep well.
To one person you call tú.
Que duermas bien.
Sleep well.
Dulces sueños.
Sweet dreams.
Affectionate; usually to children or a partner.
Me voy a la cama.
I'm off to bed.
Que descanséis.
Sleep well, all of you.
Spain, to a group of friends or family (vosotros).
Is buenas noches formal or informal?
It is neutral, like the other time-of-day greetings. You can say it to a hotel receptionist, a neighbour on the stairs or your own children. Friends often shorten it to buenas on arrival and swap it for hasta mañana or nos vemos when they leave.
To wish someone a good evening ahead, rather than greet them, Spanish uses que pases una buena noche, or que pase una buena noche to someone you address as usted.
What mistakes do learners make with buenas noches?
Learners sometimes write buenos noches. Noche is feminine, so the adjective must be buenas. The greeting is also plural, so buena noche is not how people say good night.
Another trap is switching too early. Spanish evenings start late, and at seven on a summer evening in Spain the sun is still high, so buenas tardes is what you will hear.
Read A1 Spanish stories with evening scenes, and tap any word to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce buenas noches?
Say "BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs". The ch is like the ch in "church", and both words are stressed on their first syllable.
Is there a separate Spanish word for good evening?
No. Buenas tardes covers the evening while it is still light, and buenas noches covers it once it is dark. Either can be a greeting or a goodbye.
What does que descanses mean?
Literally "may you rest". It is the most common way to say sleep well in Spanish, used with friends, family and partners. The usted form is que descanse.
How do you say good night, my love?
Buenas noches, mi amor, or buenas noches, cariño. Add que descanses or dulces sueños for extra warmth.
How do you reply to buenas noches?
Repeat it: buenas noches. At bedtime you can add igualmente (same to you) or hasta mañana.