when do you say de la noche for time?

Question

Usually, we say good evening from 4:00 pm onwards, but I came across the video which was saying afternoon (la tarde) for even 4:15 pm. So, the question is from what time onwards do you say la noche (evening) in español? Is it 4:00PM onwards or 5:00PM onwards?

Thanks!!! :-D

Welcome mate, good question . Buena suerte. - ray76, Apr 25, 2014

Thanks! - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014

Answer 1

In baja it is buenas tardes until dark. After dark it is buenas noches. It takes a little getting used to. In the US we have good afternoon/evening/night. Although good night is generally only used at parting.

Same here :) - 00551866, Apr 25, 2014

same in india as well; however, i don't think that's the case with Spanish... - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014

Answer 2

My 20th century understanding is that the night (la noche) begins at 6:00 p.m. I am not sure about the 21st century.

For example, I would say: Espero verte a las siete de la noche.

I am also from india and I am taught evening from 4 pm onwards... I just want to be sure about it as per the spanish it is a new culture for me. - ANS1, Apr 25, 2014

Remember that on the sub continent being closer to the equator that the sun sets faster and earlier so that may account for the difference setting the position . - ray76, Apr 25, 2014

so when it starts getting darker we just say la noche, right, ray76? - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014

Answer 3

In Spain we usually say Buenas Noches after 9 PM, but in winter in gets dark before and sometimes we say Buenas Noches after 7-8 PM. Since the 40s in the spanish Peninsula we going 1 hour advanced over the GMT. La madrugada begin in the 00 hour and la mañana begin with the dawn, normally 7-9 AM. La Tarde begin 13.00 PM, la noche begin 7-8 PM in winter, and after 9 PM in summer.

Thanks, so when it starts getting darker we say la noche in spanish, right? - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014

sorry few more questions: La madrugada stands for mid night i.e. early morning?? Usually we say afternoon from 12pm onwards. Are you saying it is La Tarde from 1 pm onwards? - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014

Answer 4

This actually is not a bad question.

¿A que hora empieza la noche y qué hora termina?

Empienza entre las 7:00 y 8:00 pm y finaliza a la media noche (12:00am) a partir de esta hora empienza la madrugada y a las 7:00 empeinza la mañana.

That sounds about right to me. Also note the use of the word madrugada. If you're not familiar with it, it's worth learning about.

I also found this:

a que hora empiza la noche

That discussion has differing opinions. This may be slightly regional, but it seems like la noche starts somewhere between 7-9PM depending on where you are.

so when it starts getting darker we just say la noche, right? - ANS1, Apr 28, 2014