How to say “Good evening” in 16 languages

Mexico

Buenas noches.

BWEH-nahs NOH-ches

After dark; “buenas tardes” until then.

Spain

Buenas noches.

BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs

Before dark, people say "buenas tardes", which covers the whole afternoon and early evening.

Puerto Rico

Buenas noches.

BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs

Said after dark; before that, say "buenas tardes" (BWEH-nahs TAHR-dehs).

Dominican Republic

Buenas noches.

BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs

Used once it is dark. Before that, say "buenas tardes" (BWEH-nahs TAHR-dehs).

France

Bonsoir.

bon-SWAHR

Germany

Guten Abend.

GOO-ten AH-bent

Italy

Buonasera.

bwoh-nah-SEH-rah.

Used from the afternoon on, both when arriving and when leaving.

Brazil

Boa noite.

BOH-ah NOY-chee

Used from dusk onward; the same words say good night.

Portugal

Boa noite.

BOH-uh NOY-tuh

Used once it is dark; before that, even in the early evening, say "Boa tarde" (BOH-uh TAHR-duh).

Greece

Καλησπέρα.

Kalispéra.

kah-lee-SPEH-rah

A hello from the afternoon on. When leaving at night, say "Καληνύχτα" (Kalinýchta).

Türkiye

İyi akşamlar.

ee-YEE ahk-shahm-LAHR

Also said as a goodbye in the evening.

Russia

Добрый вечер.

Dobryy vecher.

DOH-bree VYEH-cheer

India

नमस्ते।

Namaste.

nuh-muss-TAY

Hindi uses namaste at any hour; “shubh sandhya” is very formal.

India

শুভ সন্ধ্যা।

Śubha sandhyā.

SHOO-bho SHON-dhah

Formal; “nomoshkar” works at any hour.

Bangladesh

শুভ সন্ধ্যা।

Śubha sandhyā.

SHOO-bho SHON-dhah

Formal; in Bangladesh “assalamu alaikum” is the everyday greeting at any hour.

India

નમસ્તે.

Namaste.

nuh-muss-TAY

Namaste works at any hour.

China

晚上好。

Wǎnshang hǎo.

wahn-shahng how

Japan

こんばんは。

Konbanwa.

kohn-BAHN-wah

South Korea

안녕하세요.

Annyeonghaseyo.

ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh

Formal

Koreans greet people with this same phrase in the evening.

Egypt

مساء الخير.

Masāʾ il-khēr.

mah-SA il-KHAIR

Reply with “masā’ in-nūr”.

Israel

ערב טוב.

Erev tov.

EH-rehv tohv