When it comes to learning a new language, understanding the nuances of greetings is an essential step in mastering everyday conversations. In Spanish, a language known for its rich cultural heritage and global reach, the phrase "Buenas Noches" is a warm and polite way to bid someone farewell for the night.
Saying "good night" is like wrapping your loved one in a cozy blanket of words. It's that magical moment when we let the sandman whisk us away to dreamland. And, if you wish to learn how to do this in Spanish, you'll find a treasure trove of ways to bid goodnight that will make your farewells sparkle with warmth, kindness, and a dash of enchantment.
So, keep on reading to discover different ways to say “good night” in Spanish and wish your friends or family buenas noches like a native speaker.
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5+ Common Ways to Say Goodnight in Spanish
Remember that Spanish is a diverse language spoken in various countries, so you may encounter different regional variations and local greetings. However, these ways to say buenas noches should serve you well in most situations.
¡Buenas noches!
This phrase or que tengas buenas noches are the most popular ways to say goodnight in Spanish. It literally translates to “good nights,” but it can also be used as an expression of farewell or even a greeting, depending on the context.
Spanish
English
Buenas noches y que descanses bien.
Good night and rest well.
Buenas noches can be used in any situation and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. For example, imagine you are attending a business dinner in a Spanish-speaking country. As the event comes to an end, you could politely say, Buenas noches, señores y señoras (Good night, ladies and gentlemen) to bid farewell to everyone present.
Or, when saying good night to close friends, you can use a more casual tone. For instance, before going to bed, you might say, Buenas noches, chicos (Good night, guys) or Buenas noches, mi amor (Good night, my love) to your partner.
Note: You may be wondering why “good night” is plural in Spanish. The reason behind this plural usage is related to the linguistic concept of the plural being used to convey a sense of respect or abundance.
This pattern can be observed in other common Spanish greetings as well. For example, buenos días is used to say good morning, and buenas tardes is used to say good afternoon.
Hasta Mañana
This phrase translates to “until tomorrow” and is often used when saying goodnight for the evening.
For instance, if you're leaving your workplace in the evening, and you'll be seeing your colleagues again the next day, you can use Hasta mañana as a professional and courteous way of bidding them farewell.
Spanish
English
Buenas noches, equipo. Hasta mañana.
Good night, team. See you tomorrow.
Nos vemos mañana is a similar phrase, but it's not used to say "good night." Rather, it's a common farewell between people who plan to see each other the next day.
¡Que Descanses!
This phrase means “have a good rest” and is a more gentle way of saying goodbye for the night than other phrases with clear finality, like hasta mañana.
By using this phrase, you'll be expressing empathy and understanding toward the other person's need for rest. It carries a sense of compassion and consideration, highlighting the importance of self-care.
Que Pases Buenas Noches
This phrase means “have a good night” and can be used when expressing best wishes for someone's night ahead. It is even sometimes used to express sympathy or support when someone has had a difficult or trying day and needs encouragement before bed.
In Spanish, there's also a distinction in verb conjugations depending on formality. For example, if you want to be formal, you should use usted, and say, que tenga buenas noches.
Que Tengas Dulces Sueños
The phrase "sweet dreams" in Spanish, which is dulces sueños, carries a heartfelt and affectionate tone when used at the end of an evening together. It is often exchanged between friends or lovers to bid each other farewell before parting ways for the nighttime hours until they reunite again in the morning light.
The sentiment behind saying dulces sueños is about wishing the person good sleep and expressing affection and emotional connection, so make sure you only use it with close friends or family.
Spanish
English
Buenas noches, hermanito. Que tengas dulces sueños .
Good night, little brother. Sweet dreams.
¡Que Duermas Bien!
The phrase ¡Que duermas bien! in Spanish is the equivalent of the English expression "sleep tight." When using this phrase, there is a sincere desire for the person to have a good night's sleep and experience restfulness throughout the night; it conveys care, concern, and affection.
¡Que Sueñes con los Angelitos!
This delightful Spanish expression is used to wish someone sweet dreams, but it adds a touch of whimsy and charm to the well-wishing.
This expression translates to "may you dream with the little angels" and is often used when saying goodnight to children.
Phrases Related to Saying “Good Night” in Spanish
In addition to these phrases to say “good night” in Spanish, there are other related terms and expressions that have to do with sleeping. For example, these phrases are used to ask how the other person spent the night:
Spanish
English
¿Cómo dormiste?
How did you sleep?
Spanish
English
¿Pasaste una buena noche?
Did you have a good night?
Spanish
English
¿Dormiste bien?
Did you sleep well?
And, there are other phrases related to announcing you're going to sleep yourself. Let's take a look at some examples:
Spanish
English
Me voy a descansar.
I'll go to rest.
Spanish
English
Me voy a la cama.
I'm going to bed.
Spanish
English
Me voy a dormir.
I'm going to sleep.
Spanish
English
Me voy a acostar.
I'll go lie down.
What Verbs You Should Know?
To say "good night" in Spanish, it can be helpful to know some verbs related to the concept of bidding farewell or expressing good wishes.
Here are a few verbs that can be useful when saying goodnight in Spanish:
| Verb in Spanish | English translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Desear | To wish | Desear "que descanses" |
| Pasar | To have | Pasar "una noche tranquila" |
| Tener | To have | Tener "dulces sueños" |
| Dormir | To sleep | Dormir bien |
| Soñar | To dream | Soñar con los angelitos |
| Descansar | To rest | Descansar correctamente |
| Cargar energías | To recharge energy | Cargar energías para mañana |
Slang Phrases Related to Sleep
There are certain informal ways to talk about going to sleep, and many of them vary depending on the country and region. Here are some of the most popular slang phrases related to sleep:
- Echarse un clavado: This phrase literally translates to "to throw oneself a dive," but it's slang for going to sleep. It implies falling into a deep sleep quickly.
- Irse al sobre: Translated as "to go to the envelope," this expression means going to bed or going to sleep. It's often used when someone is feeling tired and ready for rest.
- Meterse en los brazos de Morfeo: This phrase means "to get into the arms of Morpheus," referring to the Greek god of sleep.
- Echarse una cabezadita: This phrase translates to "to take a little headbutt." It's a colloquial way of saying to take a short nap or have a quick snooze.
- Chutar el oso: In some Spanish-speaking countries, this slang phrase is used to mean "to hit the bear." It's a playful way of saying to go to bed or go to sleep.
Other Greetings in Spanish
Greetings are an important part of daily interactions and, as in English, they vary depending on the time of day. For example, the equivalent of “good morning” would be buenos dìas, which is used to greet someone in the morning until around midday, usually 12 p.m. It’s also possible to use this greeting in the singular form, buen dìa.
Meanwhile, buenas tardes is a phrase that means "good afternoon" and is used to greet someone in the afternoon, typically from around 12 p.m. until the evening. It can also be used as an equivalent of “good evening.”
It’s important to note that greetings in Spanish can also vary depending on the region and context. For example, in some Latin American countries like Argentina, buenas can be used instead of the full phrase buenos días as a more general greeting that can be used throughout the day.
The Bottom Line
All in all, from the familiar buenas noches to the warm que sueñes con los angelitos, each phrase carries its own unique charm, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Spanish-speaking world.
By mastering these common ways to say “good night,” you will unlock a world of warmth, kindness, and affectionate farewells. Whether you're bidding adieu to friends, family, or that special someone, these phrases allow you to leave a lasting impression and create memorable moments of connection.
If you’d like to practice these phrases or even learn new ones, why not try out entertaining and effective resources such as Langster? Choose from the web version or the app, and start learning Spanish on the go today. ¡Hasta mañana y que tengas dulces sueños!
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FAQs
Good Night in Spanish: Wish Buenas Noches Like a Native | Langster? ›
This phrase or que tengas buenas noches are the most popular ways to say goodnight in Spanish. It literally translates to “good nights,” but it can also be used as an expression of farewell or even a greeting, depending on the context. Buenas noches y que descanses bien.
What can I say instead of Buenas noches? ›| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Good night, sweet dreams | Buenas noches, dulces sueños |
| Good night, beautiful | Buenas noches, hermosa |
| Good night, handsome | Buenas noches, guapo |
| Good night, my heart | Buenas noches, corazón |
“Goodnight” in Spanish is simple: buenas noches.
How do you greet someone at night in Spanish? ›Buenas noches can mean both “good evening” and “good night” in Spanish. The Spanish language doesn't have a dedicated word for “evening” so it uses “noche” to express both “evening” and “night”.
Does Buenos noches mean good night? ›(good afternoon, good evening), and buenas noches (good evening): These three phrases are some of the most basic ways to greet someone in Spanish. Buenas noches can be used as a greeting, typically from after the sun has gone down until you go to bed.
What are the 2 meanings of Buenas noches? ›: good evening : good night.
What is the difference between Buenos noches and Buenos noche? ›noche means "night" or "evening" and is actually a feminine noun. So to put bueno with noche, you have to change bueno to buena (masculine into feminine) and since noches is plural you must make buena plural as well, so in the end, you get "buenas noches!"
How do you say goodnight politely? ›“I hope you have a restful sleep and sweet dreams” “Good night and sweet dreams” “Sleep tight and sweet dreams” “I hope that you fall asleep with ease and have the sweetest dreams”
Is saying night night flirting? ›What does it mean when a girl says “night night” to you if you're a guy? It's one of the sweetest ways a girl expresses her love, in a lovey cutsie way. It's saying Goodnight in a softer manner that sends warmth and love, like a gentle kiss as you drift off to sleep.
Is saying goodnight flirting? ›Because goodnight texts indicate that you're thinking about someone right before you go to bed, they may be construed as flirty.
Why do Spaniards say Buenas? ›
Fun fact: One curious detail is that buenos días, buenas tardes and buenas noches are formal ways to greet in Spanish, but when Spanish natives want to greet friends or family or neighbors in an informal way, they will just say “buenas” or "cómo le va" as an alternative to “hola”.
What are 3 greetings that give a time of day in Spanish? ›| Spanish | English equivalent | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | Standard greeting |
| Buenos días | Good morning | Mornings (until 12:00 p.m. noon) |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | Until the sun goes down / depends on the country |
| Buenas noches | Good night/Good evening | After the sun goes down / after dinnertime; could be used as a farewell |
Buenas noches is a phrase you can use to say goodbye at night. It can be used in the meanings of “Good evening” and “Good night” in both formal and casual situations. This is a common phrase you'll hear people say before going to bed or leaving for the night.
What time can you say Buenas Noches? ›Buenos días / buenas noches
In most Spanish speaking countries, this greeting is used from 12pm to 8pm. This greeting is usually used after 8pm. Besides, you can also say “buenas noches” to with somebody good night before going to sleep.
How to Say 'Goodnight' in Spanish. Buenas noches is how you say goodnight in Spanish. However, it's also how you say “good evening.” This is because in Spanish you have buenos días, buenas tardes, and buenas noches, while in English you have good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.
Do men say buenos noches? ›In Spanish one says literally Good mornings, good afternoons, and good evenings or nights. That is why they are buenos and buenas. The word días is masculine plural so use buenos with it. The words tardes and noches are feminine plural so use buenas with them.
What is Buenas Noches 😘 😘? ›¡Buenas noches! I'm going to sleep. Good night!
How do Dominicans say goodnight? ›To say goodnight in Spanish, you most commonly would use the phrase "buenas noches" (boo-EHN-ahs noh-chays), which literally means "good nights." X Research source But in Spanish, just as in English, there are other phrases you can use to greet people in the evening, depending on the situation.
What gender is noche in Spanish? ›The opposite time of day, la noche (night), is feminine, so you can think of them as a pair. Nouns that end in -a in Spanish are usually feminine, but the word for day is an exception.
Why do you say buenos días and not buenas días? ›It's possible that buenos días comes from a longer expression used in the past. People used to say “Buenos días os dé Díos” and they weren't just referring to one day, but the next days too. We shortened this long phrase over time (as we generally like to do) and it became buenos días, buenas tardes, and buenas noches.
What is the strongest way to say I love you? ›
- I am here for you… always.
- I'm yours.
- I'm the luckiest person in the world.
- We are meant to be.
- I'd do anything to make you smile.
- You are my soulmate.
- My heart calls out for you.
- I like the way you make me feel, even when you are not around.
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
How do you say I love you in a cute way? ›- I love you so matcha.
- You're the LOL to my OMG.
- You're the peanut butter to my jelly.
- You're the peanut to my butter.
- You're the crayons to my coloring book.
- You're the guacamole to my taco.
- You guac my world.
- We fit together like puzzle pieces.
- Sleep well, my darling.
- Good night, sleep tight.
- Tonight was lovely. You are lovely. Sleep well.
- I love you. Good night.
- Good night, my princess.
- Sweet dreams, my love!
- I hope that your rest is awesome and deep.
- Good night, babe.
I could tell you that it means she's going to bed, but when she says “goodnight” she wants you to say it back and may say something else after(that doesn't always happen but it can). She says this to show that she cares for you too, and it might hurt her feelings if you don't say it back. Good Luck!
What does goodnight with 3 ts mean? ›It means she really doesn't want you to go to sleep but knows you are really tired so say goodnight anyway but adds the triple T. She really hopes that you say you can't sleep so you can stay up with her but she knows she doesn't want to keep you up.
Do goodnight texts mean anything? ›In general, a message that says "good night" may be a simple way of wishing someone a pleasant evening or saying goodbye before going to sleep. It may not necessarily have any romantic or flirty connotations, but could simply be a friendly or polite gesture.
What is the best goodnight text? ›- “Goodnight!” ...
- “Sweet dreams.”
- “As much as I'd love to keep you up, I'll let you get some sleep.” ...
- “Wait, omg, I forgot I have a story to tell you.” ...
- “Wow, it's so late. ...
- “Night! ...
- “Night!
Some people don't like to sleep close together—maybe they like their space, or they get too hot—but a kiss goodnight is one of the simplest ways to connect at the end of the day. Unfortunately, it's also one of the activities that disappears the fastest when relationships shift from passionate to compassionate love.
What does que guay mean? ›It means cool, awesome or great. Young people pepper their conversations with this adjective, responding to their friends' stories with a chorus of ¡Qué guay! (“How cool!”)
What is a common Spanish greeting? ›
Hola - Hello/hi (the most common greeting) Buenas tardes - Good afternoon/evening. Hey - Hi (variant) Buenas noches - Good night. Saludos - Greetings.
How do you respond to Hola? ›If in passing someone says “hola!” to you, it would acceptable to reply: “como estas?”
How do you respond to Hola buen día? ›In short – the best (and easiest) response to 'buenos días' is a simple 'buenos días' in return! 'Hola, buenos días', 'buen día', 'igualmente' and 'como está' are also excellent responses! One of the phrases you're going to hear all the time when in a Spanish speaking country is 'buenos días'.
How do you respond to Hasta La Vista? ›You can reply with “hasta luego” or a simple “adiós”.
What does Buenas días querida mean? ›Good morning dearest heart, Buenos días querida España. Good morning beloved Spain.
Is Hasta luego polite? ›This is a more casual and polite way to say goodbye. It's used to indicate that you'll meet at a certain time: In the afternoon, tomorrow, next week, another day, etc. In the capital of Spain, Madrid, it's common to say Hasta luego instead of Adiós, even if you're not going to see each other again anytime soon.
What is the meaning of Buenas noches Bebe? ›- Buenas noches, bebe. Good night, sweetheart. - Good night, baby. good night, sweetheart.
What does Hola Buenas noches Saludos mean? ›Good evening (saludo)
How do you greet an older person in Spanish? ›Buenos días (BWEN-os DEE-ahs)
This Spanish greeting is used with people older than you as well as strangers.
- Adiós. Goodbye.
- Chau. Bye! ( casual)
- Nos vemos. See you (casual)
- Hasta mañana. See you tomorrow.
- Hasta luego. See you later.
What is the difference between Buenos días and Buenas Noches? ›
If you are getting up VERY early (you might be a baker or in some other profession that has to get up much earlier than everyone else) then you would use the greeting buenos días. If you are still awake at that time and you haven't gone to bed yet, you would use buenas noches as a greeting.
How do you say sleeping Spanish slang? ›Dormir usually means "to sleep" and is used in a variety of Spanish expressions.
What are three informal greetings in Spanish? ›| English | Spanish – Informal |
|---|---|
| Hi, hello | Hola |
| Good morning | Buenos días |
| Good afternoon/ Good evening | Buenas tardes |
| Good evening/ good night | Buenas noches |
Gnight is an abbreviated version of "good night." You're most likely to see it used at the end of a chat or text conversation, when someone is signing off for the night.
What can I say instead of Buenas Noches? ›| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Good night, sweet dreams | Buenas noches, dulces sueños |
| Good night, beautiful | Buenas noches, hermosa |
| Good night, handsome | Buenas noches, guapo |
| Good night, my heart | Buenas noches, corazón |
(Ok, I will go to sleep too.) A: ¡Buenas noches! (Good night!) So, you can answer with 'que descanses' to let the other people know that you wish them a good night of rest.
How do you say goodnight to your crush? ›- Sleep well, my darling.
- Good night, sleep tight.
- Tonight was lovely. You are lovely. Sleep well.
- I love you. Good night.
- Good night, my princess.
- Sweet dreams, my love!
- I hope that your rest is awesome and deep.
- Good night, babe.
Good evening. Something to remember here is that buenas noches can be used as a formal Spanish greeting, and it also means “good night.” If you use it as a “good night,” you could add que duermas bien, which is translated as “sleep well” (literally, it means: “so you dream well”).
How do you flirt over text at night? ›- "Hope you had a great day today. ...
- "Tell me about the best thing that happened to you today."
- "Want to hear about the funny thing that happened to me today?"
- "I'll be able to sleep better if I know I'm seeing you soon.
Good night, sleep tight, can't wait to see your smile in the morning so bright. As you fall asleep, know that you are the last thing I think about at night and the first thing on my mind in the morning. Sweet dreams, my love. Can't tell you how grateful I am to have you in my life.
How do you say good morning in flirty? ›
- I love the smell of coffee in the morning, but I love you even more!
- You're the goddess of my existence. ...
- I love you more than you know. ...
- Sweetheart, it's morning and time to wake up. ...
- Good morning, darling! ...
- You mean everything to me. ...
- My morning is incomplete without hearing from you.
Buenas noches is a phrase you can use to say goodbye at night. It can be used in the meanings of “Good evening” and “Good night” in both formal and casual situations. This is a common phrase you'll hear people say before going to bed or leaving for the night.
How do you say goodnight in a cute way? ›- “Sleep tight, love! I'll be dreaming of you!”
- “Good night, the love of my life. Sweet dreams!”
- “Get some rest! ...
- “Goodnight, most handsome guy/ prettiest girl in my life. ...
- "Sleep tonight, sweetheart. ...
- “Night night, baby. ...
- “Good night, sweetness. ...
- “Sweet kisses tonight.”
used to express good wishes in the evening especially when someone is leaving or going to sleep.
Is Buenas Noches formal or informal? ›| Spanish | English equivalent | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning | Slightly formal |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | Slightly formal |
| Buenas noches | Good night/Good evening | Slightly formal |
| Muy buenas/buenas | Short version of all the above | Informal |
After midday (el mediodía) you use buenas tardes until sunset (la puesta del sol). After sunset you would say buenas noches which is similar to our good evening though literally translates as good night.