gusto en conocerte

Question

Recently when I was in Mexico a friend of mine was trying to teach me spanish and taughty me the phrase...gusto en conocerte

He told me it means "nice to meet you".

Well when I said it to someone else, the man I said it to became upset and started to walk away, when I asked him why he said its because its what you say when you are wanting to be done with the conversation.

Is that true? Do you only say that phrase when the conversation is over?

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

To avoid any possible misunderstandings in Mexico, at the introduction you can say simply "Mucho gusto" and upon leaving "Gusto en conocerte."

The same I believe would work in Spain at the introduction, simply "Encantado" and upon leaving "Encantado en conocerte."

"Un placer" can also be used.

Answer 2

In spain we say "Encantado de conocerte" (Nice to meet you), it would be in english "i'm happy to meet you".

Usually it is used when you start a conversation and both say your names:

A - Hi, i'm Cisneros, and you? B - Hi, i'm Jean, nice to meet you

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A - Hola, me llamo Cisneros, ¿y tú? B - Hola, yo soy Jean, encantado de conocerte

Greetings

Answer 3

Kevin nailed it. Think of the difference between: "It's nice to meet you" and "It was nice to meet you" and at what point in the conversation you would say each one.

Answer 4

It depends on when you say it. It means "It's a pleasure knowing you". If you were just introduced to someone it means one thing. If they've been talking for a while and you say it, it implies that the conversation is over. It's the same in English. "Nice to meet you" is not the same as, "Well, it's been nice knowing you."