Questions about the verbal interchanges between people at meeting, greeting, departing, answering the telephone, etc.
24
votes
4answers
1k views
Why “buenas noches” when it's only one night?
Why are buenas noches and buenas tardes said when they refer to only one night/afternoon?
¿Por qué se dice "buenas noches" y "buenas tardes" cuando solo se refieren solo a una noche o tarde?
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Why isn't “good morning” “buenas mañanas”?
"Good afternoon" is "buenas tardes", and "Good night/evening" is "buenas noches".
Then why isn't "good morning" "buenas mañanas" instead of "buenos días"?
10
votes
2answers
384 views
Is it bad to address a young male as “señor”?
I was recently in Mallorca, at a restaurant I address the waiter as "señor".
He was probably in his early 30's, he said that I should not use señor, but another word (which I unfortunately don't ...
10
votes
2answers
621 views
Bueno as hello or greeting?
In the US State I live in, I sometimes hear Spanish speakers greet one another by simply staying "Bueno". I didn't hear this when I was recently in Mexico, although I realize I may just have not ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is “De nada” used as a response to “Gracias”?
De means "of", and nada means "nothing", so why, when put together are they used in response to "Gracias"?
8
votes
3answers
207 views
¿Qué significa 'va' en “Nos vemos después, ¿va?”
Hoy, por chat, una amiga (de México) dijo:
Nos vemos depués, ¿va?
Entiendo "Nos vemos después", pero qué significa "va" en este contexto?
7
votes
3answers
550 views
Translation of “Welcome back!”
In English, if someone has been gone for a while and has recently returned, it's common to greet them by saying, "Welcome back!" (or "Welcome back from your trip!", etc). What is the most natural way ...
7
votes
2answers
990 views
When is it appropriate to say “buenos días”?
It looks like "buenos días" is most commonly translated as "good morning," although apparently it can mean "good day" as well (like a literal translation would suggest).
Is it appropriate to greet ...
7
votes
2answers
255 views
What is the most common way to answer the phone?
What is the most universally-used greeting when answering the phone (i.e. way to say, "Hello?")? Are there any circumstances where the greeting would be different (for example, when answering a phone ...
6
votes
1answer
953 views
What does “que lo que” means?
Whenever I talk to a friend (Dominican I believe) via chat like Gtalk, he always starts the conversation with:
klk
I did some research about that and found that, in fact, it comes from the ...
5
votes
3answers
437 views
¡Buenas! greeting in morning
Another question brings up the fact that in many countries, ¡Buenas! is used as a greeting (as an abbreviation of Buenas tardes or Buenas noches). In regions where this is the case, what should be ...
5
votes
1answer
230 views
What do Mexicans always mutter to me after I say, “Feliz año”?
When I say, "Feliz año" to Mexicans, they usually mutter something and trail off. Is this a standard response to my holiday valediction, am I being dissed, or am I being neurotic?
4
votes
3answers
165 views
Proper response to ¿Qué onda?
In parts of the Spanish-speaking world, "¿Qué onda?" is used to ask something along the lines of "What's up?". What are the possible responses to this question? Should it be answered with a bien/mal, ...
3
votes
2answers
344 views
¿Cómo se dice, “How's it going”?
En inglés, se puede utilizar la expresión, "How's it going?" como una manera de preguntar cómo está alguien.
La frase es informal y tiene un significado similar al "¿Cómo estás?"
Sin embargo, cuando ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
Greetings for presents and cards
What phrases and greetings can you use for christmas presents / cards? Are there "general purpose" phrases which can be used for presents which are used the whole year, like an iPod?
For example:
...
2
votes
3answers
131 views
Alternatives to “ya me voy”
"Ya me voy" is sometimes heard often; for example at the end of the workday. What alternative phrases convey a similar meaning? "Me marcho" comes to mind, but it seems to connote walking in formation.
...
2
votes
2answers
690 views
Equivalent of “To whom it may concern:”
When writing formal letters in English where there is no named recipient (for example, a job application sent to a Human Resources department, or a letter sent to an organization in general as opposed ...
2
votes
1answer
673 views
How to respond to ¿Cómo estás? [closed]
What are the standard responses to ¿Cómo estás??
The only ones I know of are:
Bien.
and
Muy bien.
Which both are for when you are well, how do you say ok? or not so good?
0
votes
1answer
835 views
Translation of “What have you been up to lately?”
In English, when meeting someone you haven't seen for a while, you might ask, "What have you been up to lately?"
What is the equivalent question in Spanish?
