How to Say Good Morning in Spanish
Learn how to say good morning in Spanish. 'Buenos días' is the standard phrase. Pronunciation guide, the time-of-day greeting system, and warm morning phrases explained.
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Quick answer
To say good morning in Spanish, say 'Buenos días' (BWEH-nos DEE-as) — literally 'good days,' using the plural. It's used from sunrise until around noon. After noon it becomes 'Buenas tardes' (good afternoon), and after dark 'Buenas noches' (good evening/night). 'Buenos días' is both a greeting and a polite, warm way to start any morning interaction.
Buenos días
/BWEH-nos DEE-as/ — Spanish
How to Say Good Morning in Spanish
Starting the day with a warm Buenos días is one of the most useful Spanish phrases you can learn — and it reveals a charming quirk of the language.
The Phrase
Buenos días — pronounced BWEH-nos DEE-as
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish phrase for “good morning” is Buenos días (BWEH-nos DEE-as).
Pronunciation Guide
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos | BWEH-nos | ”ue” = “weh” (not “way”) |
| días | DEE-as | Stress on “DEE”; soft ‘d’ |
The accent mark on días tells you the stress falls on the í. The “ue” diphthong in “buenos” is a soft “weh” sound.
The Plural Quirk
Here’s the curiosity: Spanish greetings use the plural:
- Buenos días = literally “good days”
- Buenas tardes = “good afternoons”
- Buenas noches = “good nights”
Just memorize the plural form — it’s a fixed convention. Also note that día is a masculine noun (despite ending in -a), so it takes buenos not buenas.
The Spanish Time-of-Day System
| Time | Greeting | Pronunciation | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise–noon | Buenos días | BWEH-nos DEE-as | Good morning |
| Noon–sunset | Buenas tardes | BWEH-nas TAR-des | Good afternoon/evening |
| After dark | Buenas noches | BWEH-nas NOH-ches | Good evening AND good night |
Note: Spanish has no separate “good evening.” Buenas noches covers both the evening greeting and the bedtime farewell.
Informal & Regional Variants
| Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|
| Buenas | Casual catch-all, any time of day |
| ¡Buen día! | Singular; common in Argentina |
| ¿Cómo amaneciste? | ”How did you wake up?” (warm regional) |
| Hola | Always works |
Wishing Someone a Good Day
When parting in the morning:
- ¡Que tengas un buen día! — Have a good day! (informal)
- Que tenga un buen día — Have a good day (formal, usted)
- Que te vaya bien — May it go well for you
- ¡Hasta luego! — See you later!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Buenos días?
'Buenos días' is pronounced BWEH-nos DEE-as. 'Buenos' = BWEH-nos (the 'ue' makes a 'weh' sound). 'Días' = DEE-as, with the stress on 'DEE' (note the accent on the í). The 'd' is soft, almost like 'th' in 'the'. Avoid 'BWAY-nos' — the 'ue' is 'weh', not 'way'.
Why is it 'días' (plural) and not 'día'?
Spanish uses the plural in these set greetings — 'Buenos días' literally means 'good days,' 'Buenas tardes' means 'good afternoons,' 'Buenas noches' means 'good nights.' This pluralization is a fixed convention in the greetings (there are various historical theories, but the practical rule is simply: always use the plural). Note 'día' is masculine despite ending in -a, so it takes 'buenos.'
What is the Spanish time-of-day greeting system?
Spanish divides the day into three greetings: 'Buenos días' (good morning) from sunrise to noon; 'Buenas tardes' (good afternoon/evening) from noon until sunset; 'Buenas noches' (good evening/good night) after dark — used both as a greeting when arriving at night AND as a farewell at bedtime. Unlike English, Spanish has no separate 'good evening' — 'buenas noches' covers it.
How do you say good morning informally in Spanish?
Casually, Spanish speakers often shorten it to just 'Buenas' (a catch-all friendly greeting any time of day) or '¡Buen día!' (singular — common in Argentina and some regions). Among family or friends you might just say 'Hola' or '¿Cómo amaneciste?' (literally 'how did you wake up?' — a warm regional way to ask how someone's morning is).
How do you wish someone a good day in Spanish?
'¡Que tengas un buen día!' (keh TEN-gas oon bwen DEE-ah) = Have a good day! (informal). 'Que tenga un buen día' is the formal (usted) version. 'Que te vaya bien' = may it go well for you. These are said when parting, like the English 'have a nice day.' '¡Buen día!' on its own can also serve as a brief well-wish.