interjection

buenas noches

BWEH-nas NOH-chess

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Buenas noches (interjection) means a Spanish greeting or farewell used after dark, meaning 'good evening' when arriving and 'good night' when leaving or going to bed. Example: “Buenas noches — I'll see you in the morning.”

interjection

A Spanish greeting or farewell used after dark, meaning 'good evening' when arriving and 'good night' when leaving or going to bed.

"Buenas noches — I'll see you in the morning."

"The waiter greeted us with a warm buenas noches as we came in."

How to use buenas noches

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSpanish for good evening or good night.

When to use it

Suitable in any register in Spanish, formal or casual. Note that Spanish uses the plural noches and the feminine buenas, so 'buenos noches' is a mistake.

Memory tip

Noche is a feminine noun, so it needs buenas, not buenos. The same rule makes it buenas tardes but buenos días.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

buenos días → buenas tardes buenos noches →

Common pairings

buenas noches a todos dar las buenas noches

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “buenas noches” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ — I'll see you in the morning.

Etymology

Spanish, literally 'good nights': buenas, the feminine plural of bueno ('good'), with noches, the plural of noche ('night').

Origin: Spanish

Frequently asked questions

Is it 'buenas noches' or 'buenos noches'?

It is buenas noches. Noche is feminine in Spanish, so the adjective must be the feminine buenas. Buenos noches is a common error made by learners and by English speakers copying the sound of buenos días.

What is the difference between buenas tardes and buenas noches?

Buenas tardes covers the afternoon and early evening, roughly from lunch until dark. Buenas noches takes over once it is dark, and is used both on arrival and when saying goodnight.

Does buenas noches mean hello or goodbye?

Both. Said on arrival after dark it means good evening; said on leaving or at bedtime it means good night. Context and timing make the difference clear.

What is the meaning of buenas noches?

"buenas noches" (interjection) means a Spanish greeting or farewell used after dark, meaning 'good evening' when arriving and 'good night' when leaving or going to bed.