"Igualmente" in response to greetings

Question

Hi all,

I just wanted to check that I can use "igaulmente" in response to greetings such as "Buenos días". Would the shortness of this appear rude?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I'd use "igualmente" for things rather longer than "buenos dias" (dia is masculine) and indeed have used it quite often but I always reserved it for folk I know quite well to avoid having it thought of as unacceptably offhand.

Thanks for the correction, I should have used more caution there! - aceydoubleyou, May 7, 2010

Answer 2

To respond to "Buenos días" with "Igualmente" is about as proper and polite as replying to "Good morning" with "Likewise".

"Buenos días - Buenos días" is a bit of a standard formula. It is not uncommon, however to reply with "Y a usted también", for example - "And to you too".

Thanks Gekko, that's more the sense I was trying to convey with "Igualmente" (and for a friend, I assume I could say "Y a ti tambien") - aceydoubleyou, May 7, 2010

Yes, that is correct. :-) - Gekkosan, May 7, 2010

Answer 3

Thanks for your responses; I will avoid saying this in response to greetings such as "Buenos días".

Answer 4

I believe 'igualmente' is used more when you meet someone for the first time and they say to you 'mucho gusto' - meaning pleased to meet you - and you answer 'igualmente' - meaning pleased to meet you too.

Answer 5

I would not use it for greetings. Yes, it's a bit "short" and could be considered rude.

If a waiter tells you, "Gracias" after he gives you the bill, then you could say, "Igualmente."

Answer 6

I've always thought of it as a feeling, like "I feel the same" so it seems wierd to respond to "Buenos días with it" but I could be wrong. Gracias