How to Say Good Morning in Spanish: Buenos Días vs Buen Día

How to Say Good Morning in Spanish: Buenos Días vs Buen Día

Spanish has two main ways to say "good morning," and the difference matters. Understanding when to use "buenos días" versus "buen día" will help you sound more natural and respectful.

Buenos Días (Good Morning)

Buenos días is the most common way to say "good morning" in Spanish. It's used from sunrise until around noon.

When to use it:

• When greeting someone in the morning (formal or informal)
• In professional settings (workplace, business meetings)
• With strangers or people you don't know well
• With older people or authority figures

Examples:

• "Buenos días, ¿cómo estás?" (Good morning, how are you?)
• "Buenos días, señor." (Good morning, sir.)
• "Buenos días, que tengas un excelente día." (Good morning, have an excellent day.)
• "Buenos días, ¿cómo amaneciste?" (Good morning, how did you wake up?)

Buen Día (Good Day)

Buen día is a shorter, more casual way to say "good morning." It's less common than "buenos días" but is used in some regions (especially Latin America).

When to use it:

• In casual, informal settings
• With friends or people you know well
• In some Latin American countries (more common than in Spain)
• As a quick, friendly greeting

Examples:

• "Buen día, amigo." (Good morning, friend.)
• "Buen día, ¿qué tal?" (Good morning, what's up?)
• "Buen día, hermano." (Good morning, brother.)

Key Differences

Politeness Variations

You can add words to make your morning greeting more polite or warm:

• "Buenos días, que tengas un excelente día." (Good morning, have an excellent day.) - Warm and encouraging
• "Buenos días, espero que estés bien." (Good morning, I hope you're well.) - Caring and polite
• "Buenos días, ¿cómo amaneciste?" (Good morning, how did you wake up?) - Friendly and personal
• "Buen día, que te vaya bien." (Good morning, hope it goes well for you.) - Casual and friendly

Example Situations

Situation 1: At Work

Use: "Buenos días"

"Buenos días, jefe. ¿Cómo estás?" (Good morning, boss. How are you?)

Situation 2: With a Friend

Use: "Buen día" or "Buenos días"

"Buen día, hermano. ¿Qué tal?" (Good morning, brother. What's up?)

Situation 3: With a Stranger

Use: "Buenos días"

"Buenos días, ¿cómo está?" (Good morning, how are you?)

Situation 4: At a Hotel or Restaurant

Use: "Buenos días"

"Buenos días, quisiera una mesa para dos." (Good morning, I would like a table for two.)

Situation 5: With Family

Use: "Buen día" or "Buenos días"

"Buenos días, mamá. ¿Cómo dormiste?" (Good morning, mom. How did you sleep?)

Regional Variations

Spain: "Buenos días" is standard. "Buen día" is rarely used.

Mexico: Both "buenos días" and "buen día" are used, with "buen día" being more casual.

Argentina: "Buenos días" is standard. "Buen día" is less common.

Colombia: Both are used, with "buenos días" being more formal.

How to Respond

When someone says "buenos días" or "buen día" to you, respond with:

• "Buenos días, ¿y tú?" (Good morning, and you?)
• "Buen día, igualmente." (Good morning, likewise.)
• "Buenos días, que tengas un excelente día." (Good morning, have an excellent day.)
• "Buen día, hermano." (Good morning, brother.)

Related Phrases

For more greeting phrases, see our guides on how to say hello and how to say goodbye.

The Bottom Line

"Buenos días" is the safest choice for any morning greeting. It's formal, respectful, and works in any situation. "Buen día" is more casual and is used in some Latin American countries. When in doubt, use "buenos días" - it's always appropriate.