When Writing a Letter...

Question

If I am writing a letter to an aquantice in spanish, how should I address the letter?

Would I say "¡Hola Juan!" or simply "Juan" or something else entirely? I do not know the person too well.

clarification: I have been introduced to/talked to this person before, but we're not close friends.

Thanks! :D

Answer 1

Mm I think ¡Qué tal Juan! can work, but I think hola can also work, if you don't know him very well I suppose that after saying hello you will explain who you are anyway don't you?

I don't think that querido will be fine because you are saying that you don't now him well.

If you are going to write that, at least it should be written correctly: ¡Qué tal, Juan? - lazarus1907, Dec 16, 2010

Thanks lazaruz take it easy - Dakie, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 2

If you don't know the person very well the "hola greeting would suffice, but it is very informal. If it's a more formal letter, such as an older person you don't know, it should be "Estimado Juan:"

If really formal, it should be "Estimado Juan Gonzalez" or "Estimado Señor Gonzalez" - panam123, Dec 16, 2010

Sounds good but is kinda indifferent - Dakie, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 3

Genius good question u say Querido for male, and Querida for female

Answer 4

¡Qué tal, Juan? - lazarus1907

Is this a typo or are both symbols (¡ and ?) used here? I hadn't seen it before.

typo - Dakie, Dec 16, 2010

No, it is not a typo, but an exclamation and a question mark at the same time. That's how the RAE says it should be done. - lazarus1907, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 5

Querido/a followed by this symbol : (colon instead of a comma) is fine even if you don't know him well, it just means dear so and so in English

You don't write "querido" with people you don't know well, and certainly NOT in a formal letter. - lazarus1907, Dec 16, 2010

I agree with lazaruz - Dakie, Dec 16, 2010

Sí, pero no es una carta formal, es informal pues creo que sirve en este caso. Yo lo usaría. - daphne505, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 6

you could but it would be better if you use the appropriate greetings.you can use 'querido' for masculine singular and 'Querida' for feminine.