Buenos vs. Buenas: Which one to use?

Question

Can someone please tell me if one would write

"Buenos días, señorita"

or

"Buenas días, señorita"

Or does the use of "Buenos" and "Buenas" depend on the word directly after it?

Being either "días", "tardes" or "noches"

and not if your putting "señor", "señora" or "señorita" at the end?

Thanks for the help!

Welcome to SpanishDict. How about filling out all of your profile, especially the language. Thanks. - rac1, Sep 14, 2014

Answer 1

yes, it depends on the word after.

It is el día, and los días. thus you say buenos días

It is la tarde and la noche. also las tardes and las noches.

thus you say buenas tardes and buenas noches

My avatar is my fondest wish for the Holy Land and the Middle East in general, I like yours, too, it brings back fond memories! - Jubilado, Sep 14, 2014

Answer 2

The words buenos and buenas are adjectives that agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify.

In Spanish one says literally Good mornings, good afternoons, and good evenings or nights. That is why they are buenos and buenas.

The word días is masculine plural so use buenos with it.

The words tardes and noches are feminine plural so use buenas with them.

In these greetings the "señor", "señora" or "señorita" at the end have nothing to do with buenos or buenas. I hope this helps.

¡que bueno avatar Jubilado! - antonmo, Sep 13, 2014