How to Say Good Morning in Spanish

In Spanish, the phrase "buenos días" literally means "good days" in English. In Spanish-speaking countries, however, "buenos días" is used to mean "good morning." In the afternoon and evenings, other phrases are used. You can add words to address specific people. As in English, there are other phrases commonly used as morning greetings.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Saying "Good Morning"

  1. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 1
    1
    Use "buenos días" (boo-EHN-ohs DEE-ahs) as a standard morning greeting. If you're learning Spanish in school, this is likely the first phrase you'll learn that means "good morning" in Spanish.[2]
  2. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 2
    2
    Use "buen día" (boo-EHN DEE-ah) in some contexts. In some Latin American countries, such as Puerto Rico and Bolivia, the phrase "buen día" is used for "good morning" in casual, familiar settings.[3]
    • This greeting is extremely informal, and typically considered slang, so the best time to use it is when talking to friends or close acquaintances around your own age.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 3
    3
    Exclaim "¡buenas!" This short, relatively casual greeting is derived from "buenos días." While you can technically use it at any time of the day, if you used it in the morning it would be understood as "good morning."[4]
    • Pronounce "buenas" as "boo-EHN-ahs."
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Greeting Specific People

  1. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 4
    1
    Follow your greeting with the person's title. Just as you would use "sir," "ma'am," or "miss" in English, you can add "señor," "señora," or "señorita" after "buenos días" to greet the person more politely or formally.[5]
    • Señor (sehn-YOR) means "sir" and can be used to address any man, particularly a man who is older than you or in a position of authority.
    • Señora (sehn-YOR-ah) means "ma'am" and should be used with married women or women who are older than you or in a position of authority.
    • Use señorita (sehn-yor-EE-tah), meaning "miss," when you are greeting a younger or unmarried woman, but want to be polite.
  2. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 5
    2
    Use specific names or titles. If you're singling a person out from others, or want to address them by a different title, simply add the word or phrase you want to use after the phrase "buenos días."[6]
    • For example, if you wanted to say good morning to your doctor, you might say "Buenos días, doctor."
  3. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 6
    3
    Address a group with "muy buenos días a todos" (moo-EE boo-EHN-ohs DEE-ahs ah TOH-dohs). If you're speaking in front of an audience or walking up to a large group of people you want to greet all at once, you can use this phrase. A literal translation would be "A very good morning to you all."[7]
    • Since this is a rather formal phrase, use it on more formal occasions. For example, you might begin remarks over a business breakfast meeting by saying "muy buenos días a todos."
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Other Morning Greetings

  1. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 7
    1
    Exclaim "¡arriba!" The greeting "¡arriba!" (ah-RREE-bah – don't forget to roll the "rr") literally means "up!" It is often used in the morning to greet a sleeping child or loved one and tell them to get out of bed.[8]
    • This greeting is similar to saying "rise and shine" in English.
  2. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 8
    2
    Declare "ya amaneció" (yah ah-mahn-ay-cee-OH). If you want to rouse someone out of bed when they are still asleep, you might use this phrase. A literal translation of this phrase is "already dawn."[9]
    • The idea behind this phrase is that the day has started without whoever is still sleeping, and it's past time for them to get up. Some people might consider this phrase rude, so don't use it with someone unless you're close to them.
  3. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 9
    3
    Ask "¿Cómo amaneció usted?" If you're looking for a polite way to ask someone how their morning has been, you might use "¿Cómo amaneció usted?" (KOH-moh ah-mahn-ay-cee-OH OOH-stehd), which means "How is your morning?"[10]
    • Literally, this question would be translated "How dawned you?" It's similar to asking someone how they felt when they woke up this morning.
    • You also might say "¿Qué tal va tu mañana?" (kay tahl vah too mahn-YAHN-ah), or "How is your morning going?" This question typically works best mid-morning.
  4. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 10
    4
    Use "que tengas buen día" (kay tehn-GAHS boo-EHN DEE-ah) as you're leaving. Although in Spanish you can use the phrase "buenos días" both coming and going, you can also use this phrase, which means "have a good day."[11]
    • You also could say "que tengas un lindo día" (kay tehn-GAHS boo-EHN DEE-ah), which means "have a nice day." This phrase is typically used more casually.
    • In more formal settings, you might use "que tenga buen día" (kay tehn-GAH boo-EHN DEE-ah), which means "I hope you have a good day."
  5. Image titled Say Good Morning in Spanish Step 11
    5
    Ask someone how they slept. In Spanish, as in English, it's common to ask close friends or family members how they slept the night before, particularly early in the morning. The formal way to say this is "¿Durmió bien?" (door-mee-OH bee-EHN), or "Did you sleep well?"[12]
    • The question "¿Descansaste bien?" (days-cahn-SAHS-tay bee-EHN) is a little more casual. It's better translated as "Did you rest?" or "Did you get some rest?"
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    What words complete the sentence "son las de la manana"?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    After "las" you would insert a number higher than one (for telling time).
  • Question
    How do I say, "you are a beautiful woman"?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Eres una mujer hermosa.
  • Question
    How do I say "You are my cousin" in Spanish?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    "Eres mi primo / prima."
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Say Happy Birthday in Spanish
How to
Say Happy Birthday in Spanish
Say How Are You in Spanish
How to
Say How Are You in Spanish
Speak Spanish (Basics)
How to
Speak Spanish (Basics)
Pray the Rosary in SpanishHow to Pray the Rosary in Spanish: A Complete Guide
Say “Welcome” in Spanish
How to
Say “Welcome” in Spanish
Count up to 10 in Spanish
How to
Count up to 10 in Spanish
Say "Good Afternoon" in Spanish
How to
Say "Good Afternoon" in Spanish
Say Shut Up in Spanish
How to
Say Shut Up in Spanish
Y in Spanish MeaningWhat Does “Y” Mean in Spanish?
Write the Date in Spanish
How to
Write the Date in Spanish
Conjugate Spanish Verbs (Present Tense)
How to
Conjugate Spanish Verbs (Present Tense)
Say "I Don't Know" in Spanish
How to
Say "I Don't Know" in Spanish
Say Hello in Spanish
How to
Say Hello in Spanish
Say I Miss You in Spanish
How to
Say I Miss You in Spanish
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/salutations/good-morning-in-spanish
  2. ↑ http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/233078/good-morning-in-spanish-good-night-in-spanish-#.UT4xOhzryj4
  3. ↑ http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g147319-s604/Puerto-Rico:Caribbean:Important.Phrases.html
  4. ↑ http://www.studyspanishguide.com/2015/07/different-ways-to-say-good-morning-in-spanish/
  5. ↑ http://www.rlrouse.com/spanish/spanish-greetings-expressions.html
  6. ↑ https://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/salutations/good-morning-in-spanish
  7. ↑ http://www.studyspanishguide.com/2015/07/different-ways-to-say-good-morning-in-spanish/
  8. ↑ http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=rise%20and%20shine
  9. ↑ http://www.studyspanishguide.com/2015/07/different-ways-to-say-good-morning-in-spanish/
  1. ↑ http://www.studyspanishguide.com/2015/07/different-ways-to-say-good-morning-in-spanish/
  2. ↑ https://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/salutations/good-morning-in-spanish
  3. ↑ https://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/salutations/good-morning-in-spanish

About This Article

Jennifer Mueller, JD
Co-authored by:
Jennifer Mueller, JD
Doctor of Law, Indiana University
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 871,333 times.
12 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 16
Updated: July 28, 2022
Views: 871,333
Categories: Spanish
Article SummaryX

To say “good morning” in Spanish, say “buenos días.” Or you can just say “buenas” for a short, casual greeting. To say “good morning, beautiful” in Spanish, say “buenos dias, hermosa.” There are also other morning greetings you can use, like “¿Dormiste bien?” which means “Did you sleep well?” or “¿Cómo amaneciste?” which means “How is your morning going?” If you want to wake someone up in the morning, try saying “arriba” which translates to “up” and is similar to saying “rise and shine.” For tips on how to ask someone how their morning was, read on!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement