Spanish · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Afternoon" in Spanish: tarde

la tarde

Say it: TAR-dehfeminine · la tardenoun/ˈtaɾde/

Afternoon in Spanish is la tarde. It is feminine: la tarde. Por la tarde means in the afternoon. Buenas tardes is the greeting.

Greeting

Buenas tardes.
Good afternoon.
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How to pronounce tarde

Say it

TAR-deh

/ˈtaɾde/

TAR-deh. Stress TAR. Soft d. Clear final eh.

"Afternoon" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
la tardethe afternoon / early evening

From midday until nightfall.

por la tardein the afternoon

When something happens.

esta tardethis afternoon

Later today.

buenas tardesgood afternoon

Greeting after midday.

de la tardein the afternoon (o'clock)

Las tres de la tarde.

How to use tarde in real life

  1. 1Greeting

    Buenas tardes.

    Good afternoon.

    Tardes is plural in the greeting.

  2. 2Plans

    Nos vemos por la tarde.

    We'll see each other in the afternoon.

    Por la tarde for timing.

  3. 3Clock time

    Son las cuatro de la tarde.

    It's four in the afternoon.

    De la tarde marks p.m.

Mistakes English speakers make with tarde

Incorrect: El tarde es caluroso.

Correct: La tarde es calurosa.

Tarde is feminine: la tarde.

Incorrect: Buenas tardes a vosotros.

Correct: Buenas tardes a ustedes.

Latin America uses ustedes, not vosotros.

Good to know

In much of Latin America, buenas tardes starts after lunch and can stretch toward dusk. Then people switch to buenas noches.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Meeting after lunch

  1. ChatPal

    Buenas tardes. ¿Cómo están?

    Good afternoon. How are you?

  2. You

    Buenas tardes. Bien, gracias.

    Good afternoon. Well, thanks.

  3. ChatPal

    ¿Quedamos esta tarde?

    Shall we meet this afternoon?

  4. You

    Sí. Por la tarde estoy libre.

    Yes. In the afternoon I'm free.

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"Afternoon" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Afternoon" in Spanish

Is tarde masculine or feminine?

Feminine: la tarde, una tarde.

How do I say in the afternoon?

Por la tarde.

When do I say buenas tardes?

After midday until evening.

Tarde also means late?

Yes. Context tells afternoon from late.

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