4 Ways To Say Goodnight In Spanish - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Say Goodnight in Spanish PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Language Academia and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: April 2, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Greeting Someone in the Evening
    • |
  • Wishing Someone a Good Night
    • |
  • Sending Someone to Bed
    • |
  • Cheat Sheet
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This article was co-authored by Language Academia and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Language Academia is a private, online language school founded by Kordilia Foxstone. Kordilia and her team specialize in teaching foreign languages and accent reduction. Language Academia offers courses in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 604,874 times.

To say goodnight in Spanish, you most commonly would use the phrase "buenas noches" (boo-EHN-ahs noh-chays), which literally means "good nights."[1] But in Spanish, just as in English, there are other phrases you can use to greet people in the evening, depending on the situation. There are even more phrases you can use if you're talking to children, or to close friends or relatives.[2]

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Greeting Someone in the Evening

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  1. Step 1 Say "buenas noches" (boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS). 1 Say "buenas noches" (boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS). "Buenas" is derived from the adjective "bueno," and "noches" is the plural form for the feminine noun meaning "night." Together they are used similarly to "good evening" in English.[3]
    • Since there's no verb in the phrase, it doesn't change regardless of who you're addressing.
    • "Buenas noches" can be used either as a greeting or a farewell, as long as it's dark out. However, it's more commonly used as a greeting.
  2. Step 2 Use "feliz noche" (fay-LEEZ noh-CHAY) as a farewell in more formal situations. 2 Use "feliz noche" (fay-LEEZ noh-CHAY) as a farewell in more formal situations. Translated literally, this phrase means "happy night," but it is used in the same way you would say "goodnight" in English. This is considered a polite evening farewell.[4]
    • For example, if you were meeting your in-laws for the first time, you might say "feliz noche" to them as you were parting ways.
    • Another polite farewell to use late in the evening is "que tengan buena noche" (kay tehn-GEHN boo-EHN-ah noh-CHAY), which means "have a good night."
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  3. Step 3 Shorten your greeting to "buenas." 3 Shorten your greeting to "buenas." Just as you might say "evening" instead of "good evening" in English, you can use "buenas" to mean "buenas noches." Since this short form doesn't indicate a time of day, you can use it anytime, although it's more frequently used in the afternoon and evening.[5]
  4. Step 4 Use "descansa" (days-CAHN-sah) at the end of the evening. 4 Use "descansa" (days-CAHN-sah) at the end of the evening. The word descansa is taken from the verb descansar, and basically means "rest." In casual situations, you can say this as a way to say goodnight, especially if it's late and everyone is headed home for bed.[6]
    • If you're saying farewell to a group of people, say (vosotros) "descansad" or (ustedes) "descansen," depending on your level of familiarity with the people and the customs of the country.
    • This is a more casual farewell, typically used when you're on more familiar terms with the people you're addressing.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Wishing Someone a Good Night

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  1. Step 1 Say "que pases buenas noches" (kay pah-SAYS boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS). 1 Say "que pases buenas noches" (kay pah-SAYS boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS). This phrase is a friendly command to pass or spend a good night. In this form of the phrase, the verb pasar is conjugated informally.[7]
    • Use this conjugation when you're speaking to children, or to friends and family members with whom you're on familiar, casual terms.
  2. Step 2 Use "que pase buenas noches" (kays pah-SAY boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS ooh-STEHD) in more formal settings. 2 Use "que pase buenas noches" (kays pah-SAY boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS ooh-STEHD) in more formal settings. If you're speaking with someone who is older than you, or holds some position of authority, you want to use the formal pronoun usted when wishing them a good night.[8]
    • This would also be the form to use if you're talking to someone you don't know very well, such as a shop clerk or a friend of a friend who you've just met.
    • If you're speaking to a group of people, say "que pasen buenas noches (ustedes)."
  3. Step 3 Try tener instead of pasar. 3 Try tener instead of pasar. You can also use the conjugated form of the verb tener, which means "to have," to tell someone to have a good night. With this verb, the phrase would be "que tengas buenas noches" (kay tehn-GAHS boo-EHN-ahs noh-CHAYS).[9]
    • Formally, the phrase is "que tenga buenas noches." The plural is "que tengan buenas noches." In normal conversation, people typically don't include the pronoun "usted."
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Sending Someone to Bed

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  1. Step 1 Say "que duermas bien" (kay doo-EHR-mahs bee-EHN). 1 Say "que duermas bien" (kay doo-EHR-mahs bee-EHN). This phrase is a polite command that translates to "sleep well." Use it primarily with children, family, and close friends. Conjugate the verb dormir depending on the person you're addressing.[10]
    • Tú: "Que duermas bien."
    • Usted: "Que duerma bien."
    • Vosotros: "Que durmáis bien."
    • Ustedes: "Que duerman bien."
  2. Step 2 Use the command "duerme bien" (doo-EHR-may bee-EHN). 2 Use the command "duerme bien" (doo-EHR-may bee-EHN). Particularly if you're telling someone to "sleep well" and intend it more as an instruction (for example to a child), this phrase is appropriate.[11]
    • Tú: "¡Duerme bien!"
    • Usted: "¡Duerma bien!"
    • Ustedes: "¡Duerman bien!"
  3. Step 3 Wish someone "Que tengas dulces sueños" (kay tehn-GAHS dool-SAYS soo-EHN-yohs). 3 Wish someone "Que tengas dulces sueños" (kay tehn-GAHS dool-SAYS soo-EHN-yohs). This phrase is used to mean "sweet dreams," although the literal translation is something like "that you might have sweet dreams."[12]
    • This phrase typically is only used for children – occasionally for younger siblings or significant others.
    • Since the phrase is only used familiarly, you only need the familiar conjugations of the verb tener. Use tengas if you're addressing one person, and tengáis if you're addressing several people.
    • You also can shorten the phrase and simply say "dulces sueños," or "sweet dreams."[13]
  4. Step 4 Try "que sueñes con los angelitos" (kay soo-EHN-yehs cohn lohs ahn-jay-LEE-tohs). 4 Try "que sueñes con los angelitos" (kay soo-EHN-yehs cohn lohs ahn-jay-LEE-tohs). This phrase, typically only used with children, means "dream with the little angels."[14]
    • This phrase uses the verb soñar ("to dream"), which is conjugated irregularly. However, since it's only used for children, the familiar conjugations are the only ones you need to know: sueñes (singular) and soñéis" (plural).
    • You can also say this in the command form: "Sueña con los angelitos."
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Cheat Sheet

Sample Ways to Say Goodnight in Spanish

Community Q&A

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  • Question Why is "good night" always plural in Spanish? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer No one knows for sure, because the custom goes back to ancient times. One theory is that "buenas noches," "buenos dias," etc. are a shortened form of the greeting "buenas noches nos dé Dios," meaning "may God give us good nights" (or days or afternoons). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
  • Question Would Google Translate be a viable option? Community Answer Community Answer Google Translate can make mistakes as it is artificial intelligence, but it usually is accurate enough. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
  • Question What is "attended" in Spanish? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer The verb is asistir. It depends on how you use the word. "I attended the party" would be "asistí a la fiesta." Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
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References

  1. ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/spanish.php
  2. ↑ https://baselang.com/blog/basic-grammar/spanish-greetings-goodbyes/
  3. ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/que%20pases%20buenas%20noches
  4. ↑ https://baselang.com/blog/basic-grammar/spanish-greetings-goodbyes/
  5. ↑ https://baselang.com/blog/basic-grammar/spanish-greetings-goodbyes/
  6. ↑ https://baselang.com/blog/basic-grammar/spanish-greetings-goodbyes/
  7. ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/que%20pases%20buenas%20noches
  8. ↑ https://spanishandgo.com/learn/tu-vs-usted#When_and_how_to_use_the_formal_%22Usted%22_in_Spanish?
  9. ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/que%20tengas%20buenas%20noches
More References (5)
  1. ↑ https://www.spanishdict.com/pronunciation/%C2%A1que%20duermas%20bien!
  2. ↑ https://discoverdiscomfort.com/good-night-in-spanish/
  3. ↑ https://discoverdiscomfort.com/good-night-in-spanish/
  4. ↑ https://discoverdiscomfort.com/good-night-in-spanish/
  5. ↑ https://discoverdiscomfort.com/good-night-in-spanish/

About This Article

Language Academia Co-authored by: Language Academia Language Tutors This article was co-authored by Language Academia and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Language Academia is a private, online language school founded by Kordilia Foxstone. Kordilia and her team specialize in teaching foreign languages and accent reduction. Language Academia offers courses in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin. This article has been viewed 604,874 times. 37 votes - 88% Co-authors: 12 Updated: April 2, 2025 Views: 604,874 Categories: Spanish Article SummaryX

To say goodnight in Spanish as a greeting or farewell, say “Buenas Noches,” which means “Good Evening.” However, in more formal situations, use “Feliz Noche,” or “Happy Night,” as your goodbye. Alternatively, at the end of the evening with friends or family, say “Descansa,” which means “Rest.” If you're speaking to children or close family or friends, you can tell them “Que Pases Buenas Noches,” or “Spend a Good Night.” Additionally, if you want to tell a person to sleep well, then try “Duerme Bien,” or “Que Duermas Bien” for “Sleep Tight.” To learn how to tell a child “Sweet Dreams,” keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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    Aug 31, 2016

    "Helped me really well in learning the different ways to say good night and to whom they should be used."
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Language Academia Co-authored by: Language Academia Language Tutors Co-authors: 12 Updated: April 2, 2025 Views: 604,874 88% of readers found this article helpful. 37 votes - 88% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Aug 31, 2016

"Helped me really well in learning the different ways to say good night and to whom they should be used." Anonymous

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Aug 30, 2017

"I did not know the spelling of some of the words. I was sending a text in Spanish." Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 6, 2016

"I learned more phrases to express pleasantries. Thanks." Anonymous

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