When is "saludes" instead of "saludos" correct for a closing salutation?
When is "saludes" instead of "saludos" correct for a closing salutation? My instructor says the implied subjunctive "saludes" is better for closing an email or letter to friends, "saludos" is better for a formal closing salutation. My long time friend who has studied and spoken much Spanish in South America says no-never-nunca to any use of the the word "saludes" as a closing salutation.
Muchos Saludos or Muchos Saludes
Amancay
6 Answers
Apparently in Ecuador:
R A E:
saludes.
(De salud).
- f. pl. Am. Cen., Col. y Ec. saludos (? expresiones corteses). Les traigo las saludes de los amigos. En Ecuador, u. t. c. m. pl.
I wouldn't say that "saludes" is used by people with no-education. "Saludes" is included in a main reference for spanish speakers the "Diccionario de la lengua Española" (http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=saludes), therefore it is a valid word. My mother tongue is spanish and I'm from Nicaragua; here we usually use "saludos", few people uses "saludes" and both are equivalent. However, I'd recommend you to use "saludos" because it is the dominant one, therefore it sounds better and more adquate in a conversation/formal letter/informal letter.
I'm a native speaker from Mexico. And apparently people in Mexico in the past they used to say "saludes" as a plural word for sending someone's heath blessings not for sending their greetings as in "Saludos". I personally do not consider "saludes" as incorrect word but a lot of people might consider it a sort barbarism. I would say that the word is archaic and little used in common parlance nowadays in Mexico, you might hear it often in rural areas but that doesn't mean it's not valid.
Interestign question and very good answer by lorenzo. My instinct was to tell you the same as your friends, saludes is incorrect. However, as you can see, it is a regional variety and if the "bible" RAE, says so, it is correct
I am Ecuadorian and also a High Schoo Spanish Teacher. NEVER use saludes, is not proper. In Ecuador, unless you have not had education, we never use saludes.
gracias por todo
