How to greet and say goodbye in Spanish

Saludos y Despedidas

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     The Spanish culture is a very warm and friendly one that’s why  they love exchanging greetings and pleasantries with their loved ones and even with people (strangers), they’re getting to know for the very first time.

The verbs that are very important here are saludar (to greet) and Despedirse (to say goodbye), while the nouns (los nombres o los sustantivos)  are saludos (greetings) and Despedidas (Goodbyes). When it comes to greeting, the Spanish language follows the same sequence as the English language: Good morning-Buenos días, Good afternoon-Buenas tardes, Good evening or Good night-Buenas noches.

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Saludos (greetings):  Por ejemplo (For example)

En la calle-In the street  (por la mañana-In the morning)

-Buenos días. ¿Qué tal?

-Good morning. How’s it going?

-Bien, gracias. Y tu?

-Fine, thank you. And you?

-Muy bien, gracias.

-Very well, thanks.

En la calle por la tarde (In the street in the afternoon)

-Buenas tardes, profesora.

-Good afternoon , Ma'am (Lecturer)

-¿Cómo estas chica?

-How are you girl?

-Muy bien profesora. Y usted?

-Very well Ma'am. And you?

-Bastante bien.

-Quite fine.

En la casa por la noche (In the house at night)

-Buenas noches papá, bienvenido.

-Good evening papa, welcome.

-Buenas noches papá y mamá, voy a dormir. (Despedirse)

-Good night papa and mama, I’m going to bed or I’m going to sleep.

Despedidas:

To say goodbye, you’ll normally hear a Spanish speaker say:

-Adiós- (Which literally means to God)

-Hasta luego-See you later

-Hasta pronto-See you soon

-Hasta la vista-Until we meet again

-Hasta manana-See you tomorrow

-Chao

Por ejemplo: (En la calle (una conversación o un diálogo entre amigas)
For example: (In the street (a conversation or dialogue between girlfriends)
Eva –Buenas tardes Andrea. ¿Qué hay de nuevo?

       -Good afternoon Andrea. What’s new?

Andrea –Buenas tardes Eva. Nada importante; solo he acabado con los exámenes de hoy.

              -Good afternoon Eva. Nothing important, only that I’m through with today’s exams.

Eva –Vale. ¿Cómo han sido?

       -OK. How were they?

Andrea –Muy fácil. Estoy segura de que voy a aprobar todos.

              -Very easy. I’m sure that I will pass everything.

Eva –Bueno. Mucha suerte. Hasta luego.

       -Good. Good luck. See you later.

Andrea –Gracias. Hasta luego.

              -Thanks. See you later.

Fíjate (Note): In Spanish speaking countries, the time for each greeting varies. For example in Spain: Buenos días (Good morning) starts from the time you wake up (6-7 am) to (1 pm) in the afternoon, Buenas tardes starts from (1 pm) to (8 pm), then Buenas noches starts from (8 pm) till daybreak (6-7 am).