usage.greetings-time-of-day
Buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches
Buenos días until lunch, buenas tardes until dark, buenas noches after, both greeting and farewell. Plain buenas covers all hours informally.
usageA1✓ Reviewedv0.1.0
Explanation
The switch points follow meals and light, not the clock: tardes starts after lunch (~1pm), noches at nightfall. Buenas noches also says goodbye/goodnight.
Clipped buenas is the universal informal entry into shops and elevators. Note the plural -s: buenos días, never *buen día in most regions (though buen día is standard in the Río de la Plata).
The switch points track meals and daylight, not the clock: buenas tardes starts after lunch (~1pm) and buenas noches at nightfall, and buenas noches doubles as 'goodnight/goodbye'. Clipped buenas works at any hour for shops and elevators; mind the plural (buenos días), though buen día is standard in the Río de la Plata.
Examples
Good afternoon, is the manager in?
Region: global
Hi there! May I come in?
Region: global
Afternoon, could I get a coffee with milk, please?
Region: global