The phrase “Good Evening” isn’t just a polite greeting—it’s a reflection of cultural etiquette, warmth, and social rhythm. Whether you’re stepping into a dinner party in Paris or walking through a quiet street in Tokyo, the way you say “Good Evening” can leave a lasting impression.
This article is your ultimate guide to saying “Good Evening” in the world’s most spoken and influential languages. We’ve made it user-friendly, informative, and packed with contextual insights—so you’ll know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it.
🌐 How to Say “Good Evening” in Different Languages
- 🇺🇳 Country Flag
- 📜 Language Name
- 🔤 Translation of “Good Evening”
- 🗣️ Pronunciation (simplified)
- 💬 Meaning
- 📝 Example Sentence
- 🎯 Tone Tip (formal vs. informal use)
1. Spanish 🇪🇸
Word: Buenas noches
Pronunciation: bweh-nas noh-ches
Meaning: Used to greet someone in the evening or to say “good night” when parting.
Example: “Buenas noches, señor.” (Good evening, sir.)
Tone Tip: Common in both casual and formal interactions.
2. French 🇫🇷
Word: Bonsoir
Pronunciation: bon-swahr
Meaning: A polite way to say “Good evening,” especially in social and formal settings.
Example: “Bonsoir, comment allez-vous?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Typically used in polite or formal situations, especially after 6 PM.
3. German 🇩🇪
Word: Guten Abend
Pronunciation: goo-ten ah-bent
Meaning: Standard evening greeting, similar to “Good evening” in English.
Example: “Guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren.” (Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.)
Tone Tip: Often used formally, especially after sunset.
4. Italian 🇮🇹
Word: Buona sera
Pronunciation: bwo-nah seh-rah
Meaning: A respectful and warm greeting used after late afternoon.
Example: “Buona sera, come va?” (Good evening, how’s it going?)
Tone Tip: Suitable for both formal and friendly settings.
5. Portuguese 🇵🇹 / 🇧🇷
Word: Boa noite
Pronunciation: boh-ah noy-che
Meaning: Can be used to say “Good evening” when arriving, or “Good night” when leaving.
Example: “Boa noite a todos!” (Good evening to everyone!)
Tone Tip: Flexible for greetings and farewells at night.
6. Russian 🇷🇺
Word: Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher)
Pronunciation: doh-bree veh-cher
Meaning: A traditional and polite way to say “Good evening.”
Example: “Добрый вечер, как дела?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Commonly used in formal conversations or public settings.
7. Japanese 🇯🇵
Word: こんばんは (Konbanwa)
Pronunciation: kon-bahn-wah
Meaning: A typical evening greeting, used politely in both personal and formal interactions.
Example: “こんばんは、お元気ですか？” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Formal or neutral, and respectful in tone.
8. Korean 🇰🇷
Word: 좋은 저녁입니다 (Joeun jeonyeog-imnida)
Pronunciation: jo-eun juh-nyuhg-im-nee-da
Meaning: A formal phrase to greet someone in the evening.
Example: “좋은 저녁입니다!” (Good evening!)
Tone Tip: Highly polite and often used in professional or respectful situations.
9. Mandarin Chinese 🇨🇳
Word: 晚上好 (Wǎnshàng hǎo)
Pronunciation: wan-shahng how
Meaning: A formal greeting used during evening hours.
Example: “晚上好，你今天怎么样？” (Good evening, how was your day?)
Tone Tip: More common in formal settings or written Chinese.
10. Hindi 🇮🇳
Word: शुभ संध्या (Shubh Sandhya)
Pronunciation: shoobh sun-dhyaa
Meaning: A formal and traditional way to say “Good evening.”
Example: “शुभ संध्या, आप कैसे हैं?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Mostly used in written or religious contexts; spoken English is often preferred informally.
11. Arabic 🇸🇦
- Word: مساء الخير
- Pronunciation: masaa’ al-khayr
- Meaning: Literally “evening of goodness”
- Example: “مساء الخير، كيف حالك؟” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Formal; commonly used in both spoken and written Arabic.
12. Armenian 🇦🇲
- Word: Բարի երեկո
- Pronunciation: bari yereko
- Meaning: “Good evening”
- Example: “Բարի երեկո, ինչպես եք?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal contexts.
13. Azerbaijani 🇦🇿
- Word: Axşamınız xeyir
- Pronunciation: akh-sha-muh-nuhz khay-eer
- Meaning: “May your evening be good”
- Example: “Axşamınız xeyir, necəsiniz?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Formal; used in polite conversations.
14. Basque 🇪🇸
- Word: Arratsalde on
- Pronunciation: ar-rat-sal-de on
- Meaning: “Good afternoon/evening”
- Example: “Arratsalde on, nola zaude?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal settings.
15. Belarusian 🇧🇾
- Word: Добры вечар
- Pronunciation: dob-ry ve-char
- Meaning: “Good evening”
- Example: “Добры вечар, як справы?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Formal; commonly used in greetings.
16. Bengali 🇧🇩
- Word: শুভ সন্ধ্যা
- Pronunciation: shubho shondhya
- Meaning: “Auspicious evening”
- Example: “শুভ সন্ধ্যা, আপনি কেমন আছেন?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Formal; often used in written communication.
17. Bosnian 🇧🇦
- Word: Dobro veče
- Pronunciation: doh-broh veh-cheh
- Meaning: “Good evening”
- Example: “Dobro veče, kako ste?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal contexts.
18. Bulgarian 🇧🇬
- Word: Добър вечер
- Pronunciation: do-bur ve-cher
- Meaning: “Good evening”
- Example: “Добър вечер, как сте?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Formal; commonly used in greetings.
19. Burmese 🇲🇲
- Word: မင်္ဂလာညနေခင်းပါ
- Pronunciation: ming-ga-la nya-nay khin pa
- Meaning: “Evening blessings to you”
- Example: “မင်္ဂလာညနေခင်းပါ။” (Good evening.)
- Tone Tip: Formal; used in polite conversations.
20. Catalan 🇪🇸
- Word: Bona nit
- Pronunciation: bo-na neet
- Meaning: “Good night”
- Example: “Bona nit, com estàs?” (Good evening, how are you?)
- Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal settings.
21. Czech 🇨🇿
Word: Dobrý večer
Pronunciation: DOH-bree VEH-cher
Meaning: A polite way to greet someone in the evening.
Example: “Dobrý večer, jak se máte?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal contexts.
22. Danish 🇩🇰
Word: Godaften
Pronunciation: go-DAF-ten
Meaning: A respectful way to say “Good evening.”
Example: “Godaften, hvordan har du det?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Commonly used in both casual and formal settings.
23. Dutch 🇳🇱
Word: Goedenavond
Pronunciation: KHOO-den AH-vond
Meaning: Used for greeting someone after late afternoon hours.
Example: “Goedenavond, hoe gaat het?” (Good evening, how’s it going?)
Tone Tip: Suitable for both formal and informal situations.
24. English 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Word: Good evening
Pronunciation: GOOD EE-ving
Meaning: A polite and neutral greeting during the evening hours.
Example: “Good evening, everyone.”
Tone Tip: Formal; often used in professional or polite contexts.
25. Esperanto 🌐
Word: Bonan vesperon
Pronunciation: BO-nan ves-PE-ron
Meaning: A direct equivalent of “Good evening.”
Example: “Bonan vesperon, kiel vi fartas?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Universally understood among Esperanto speakers.
26. Estonian 🇪🇪
Word: Tere õhtust
Pronunciation: TEH-re UH-kh-toost
Meaning: A standard greeting used in the evening.
Example: “Tere õhtust, kuidas sul läheb?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Appropriate for both formal and informal greetings.
27. Finnish 🇫🇮
Word: Hyvää iltaa
Pronunciation: HOO-vah EEL-tah
Meaning: A courteous greeting used after sunset.
Example: “Hyvää iltaa, mitä kuuluu?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Commonly used in both casual and formal settings.
28. French 🇫🇷
Word: Bonsoir
Pronunciation: bon-SWAHR
Meaning: A refined way to say “Good evening.”
Example: “Bonsoir, comment allez-vous?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Used in polite or formal situations, especially in greetings.
29. Georgian 🇬🇪
Word: საღამო მშვიდობისა
Pronunciation: saghamo mshvidobisa
Meaning: A formal way to offer peaceful evening wishes.
Example: “საღამო მშვიდობისა, როგორ ხარ?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Formal; used in respectful greetings.
30. Greek 🇬🇷
Word: Καλησπέρα
Pronunciation: kah-lees-PEH-rah
Meaning: A warm and welcoming evening greeting.
Example: “Καλησπέρα, πώς είστε;” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Used in both formal and informal contexts.
31. Malayalam 🇮🇳
Word: ശുഭ സന്ധ്യ (Shubha Sandhya)
Pronunciation: shoo-bhah sandh-yah
Meaning: Used to wish someone a pleasant evening.
Example: “ശുഭ സന്ധ്യ! നിങ്ങളെ കാണാനായതിൽ സന്തോഷം.” (Good evening! Happy to see you.)
Tone Tip: Used in formal and polite interactions.
32. Marathi 🇮🇳
Word: शुभ संध्या (Shubh Sandhya)
Pronunciation: shoobh sandh-yah
Meaning: A respectful greeting in the evening hours.
Example: “शुभ संध्या, आजचा दिवस कसा गेला?” (Good evening, how was your day?)
Tone Tip: Polite and commonly used when meeting someone in the evening.
33. Mongolian 🇲🇳
Word: Сайн орой (Sain oroi)
Pronunciation: sine oh-roy
Meaning: Used to wish someone a good evening.
Example: “Сайн орой, найз минь!” (Good evening, my friend!)
Tone Tip: Neutral tone; suitable in most evening scenarios.
34. Nepali 🇳🇵
Word: शुभ साँझ (Shubha Saajh)
Pronunciation: shoo-bhah saanjh
Meaning: A formal way to say good evening.
Example: “शुभ साँझ! तपाईँलाई भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो।” (Good evening! Glad to meet you.)
Tone Tip: Common in both formal and respectful informal settings.
35. Norwegian 🇳🇴
Word: God kveld
Pronunciation: goo kvel
Meaning: Evening greeting in Norwegian.
Example: “God kveld, hvordan har dagen din vært?” (Good evening, how was your day?)
Tone Tip: Warm and casual; also suitable for formal conversations.
31. Nepali 🇳🇵
Word: शुभ सन्ध्या (Shubha Sandhya)
Pronunciation: shoo-bhah sun-dhyaa
Meaning: A formal greeting used in the evening.
Example: शुभ सन्ध्या, तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो। (Good evening, nice to meet you.)
Tone Tip: Best suited for respectful or ceremonial interactions.
32. Norwegian 🇳🇴
Word: God kveld
Pronunciation: goo kvell
Meaning: A standard evening greeting.
Example: God kveld! Hvordan har dagen din vært? (Good evening! How was your day?)
Tone Tip: Polite, yet casual. Common in everyday speech.
33. Oromo 🇪🇹
Word: Baga galgala ga’e
Pronunciation: bah-gah gal-gah-lah gah-eh
Meaning: Wishing someone a good arrival into the evening.
Example: Baga galgala ga’e, akkam jirtu? (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Mostly used in rural areas and in formal settings.
34. Papiamento 🇨🇼🇦🇼
Word: Bon nochi
Pronunciation: bon noh-chee
Meaning: Good evening/night in Papiamento.
Example: Bon nochi, kon ta ku bo? (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Friendly and informal, often used among locals.
35. Pashto 🇦🇫
Word: ښه ماښام (Kha Mākham)
Pronunciation: khah mah-kham
Meaning: Used as a greeting in the evening.
Example: ښه ماښام، ستا ورځ څنګه تېره شوه؟ (Good evening, how was your day?)
Tone Tip: Polite and suitable for both social and formal contexts.
36. Persian 🇮🇷
Word: عصر بخیر (Asr Bekheir)
Pronunciation: ahs-r beh-kheyr
Meaning: A common way to say good evening.
Example: عصر بخیر، حال شما چطور است؟ (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Used in formal and respectful communication.
37. Polish 🇵🇱
Word: Dobry wieczór
Pronunciation: doh-bri vyetch-oor
Meaning: Standard greeting used in the evening.
Example: Dobry wieczór, jak się masz? (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Appropriate for both formal and informal situations.
38. Portuguese 🇵🇹🇧🇷
Word: Boa noite
Pronunciation: boh-ah noy-chee
Meaning: Used both for ‘good evening’ and ‘good night’.
Example: Boa noite, como foi o seu dia? (Good evening, how was your day?)
Tone Tip: Common across all Portuguese-speaking regions.
39. Punjabi 🇮🇳🇵🇰
Word: ਸ਼ੁਭ ਸ਼ਾਮ (Shubh Shaam)
Pronunciation: shoobh shaam
Meaning: Formal way to greet someone in the evening.
Example: ਸ਼ੁਭ ਸ਼ਾਮ! ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? (Good evening! How are you?)
Tone Tip: Used respectfully in both social and ceremonial settings.
40. Romanian 🇷🇴
Word: Bună seara
Pronunciation: boo-nuh seh-ah-rah
Meaning: A polite evening greeting.
Example: Bună seara, ce mai faci? (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Polite and often used in public and formal scenarios.
61. Thai 🇹🇭
Word: สวัสดีตอนเย็น (Sawasdee ton yen)
Pronunciation: sah-wah-dee ton yen
Meaning: A polite way to say “good evening.”
Example: “สวัสดีตอนเย็นค่ะ” (Good evening – said by a woman).
Tone Tip: Use polite particles (“ค่ะ” for females, “ครับ” for males) to show respect.
62. Turkish 🇹🇷
Word: İyi akşamlar
Pronunciation: ee-yee ak-sham-lar
Meaning: Literally means “have a good evening.”
Example: “İyi akşamlar, nasılsınız?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Common in formal and informal settings—perfect for any social or professional conversation.
63. Ukrainian 🇺🇦
Word: Добрий вечір (Dobryi vechir)
Pronunciation: doh-bree veh-cheer
Meaning: Standard greeting for evening.
Example: “Добрий вечір, пані!” (Good evening, madam!)
Tone Tip: Very respectful, suitable in both everyday and formal situations.
64. Urdu 🇵🇰
Word: شام بخیر (Shaam bakhair)
Pronunciation: shaam ba-khair
Meaning: “Evening with goodness” — an elegant way to greet.
Example: “شام بخیر، آپ کیسے ہیں؟” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Very polite and formal, often used in written or elegant speech.
65. Uzbek 🇺🇿
Word: Xayrli kech
Pronunciation: khayr-lee kech
Meaning: Literally “peaceful evening” or “good evening.”
Example: “Xayrli kech, sizni ko‘rib xursandman.” (Good evening, nice to see you.)
Tone Tip: A polite expression, great for greetings among elders or strangers.
66. Vietnamese 🇻🇳
Word: Chào buổi tối
Pronunciation: chow boo-ee toy
Meaning: A friendly and polite way to say “good evening.”
Example: “Chào buổi tối, bạn khỏe không?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Common in formal conversations; tone matters in Vietnamese, so pronunciation should be clear.
67. Welsh 🏴
Word: Noswaith dda
Pronunciation: noss-wye-th tha
Meaning: “Good evening” in standard Welsh.
Example: “Noswaith dda i chi!” (Good evening to you!)
Tone Tip: Formal and polite, great for respectful interactions.
68. Xhosa 🇿🇦
Word: Ubusuku obuhle
Pronunciation: oo-boo-soo-koo oh-boo-hleh
Meaning: Literally means “beautiful night.”
Example: “Ubusuku obuhle kuwe.” (Good evening to you.)
Tone Tip: Used with warmth and genuine courtesy in greetings.
69. Yiddish 🇮🇱
Word: גוטן אָוונט (Gutn ovnt)
Pronunciation: goo-ten oh-vent
Meaning: “Good evening,” typically used in Jewish communities.
Example: “Gutn ovnt, chaver.” (Good evening, friend.)
Tone Tip: Polite and community-oriented, often said warmly.
70. Yoruba 🇳🇬
Word: Ka ale
Pronunciation: kah ah-leh
Meaning: Evening greeting in Yoruba.
Example: “Ka ale, bawo ni?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Used in both casual and respectful settings—tone rising gently helps keep it friendly.
71. Zulu 🇿🇦
Word: Sawubona kusihlwa
Pronunciation: sah-woo-boh-nah koo-sees-lwah
Meaning: “Good evening” or “I see you this evening.”
Example: “Sawubona kusihlwa, ngiyajabula ukukubona.” (Good evening, I’m happy to see you.)
Tone Tip: Warm and communal, used with care and friendliness.
72. Haitian Creole 🇭🇹
Word: Bonswa
Pronunciation: bon-swah
Meaning: A relaxed and common way to say “good evening.”
Example: “Bonswa zanmi!” (Good evening, friend!)
Tone Tip: Very casual, used widely among friends and family.
73. Luxembourgish 🇱🇺
Word: Gudden Owend
Pronunciation: goo-den oh-vend
Meaning: “Good evening” in Luxembourgish.
Example: “Gudden Owend, wéi geet et?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Polite and modern, works in social and formal circles alike.
74. Basque 🇪🇸
Word: Arratsalde on
Pronunciation: ah-raht-sahl-deh on
Meaning: “Good afternoon” or early evening—often used for both.
Example: “Arratsalde on, lagun!” (Good evening, friend!)
Tone Tip: Slightly formal, but used daily in the Basque Country.
75. Galician 🇪🇸
Word: Boas noites
Pronunciation: bo-as noy-tes
Meaning: “Good night” or “good evening,” depending on the context.
Example: “Boas noites, como estás?” (Good evening, how are you?)
Tone Tip: Friendly and relaxed, suitable in most conversations.
🌍💬 How Tone and Context Matter in Different Cultures
Understanding tone is just as important as the word itself! Here’s why:
- 🧑⚖️ Formal vs. Informal: Some languages use entirely different structures depending on social hierarchy (e.g., Japanese, Korean).
- 💞 Tone Equals Respect: In many African and Asian cultures, how softly or politely you say “good evening” reflects your respect level.
- 🎯 Context Changes Meaning: For example, in German, “Guten Abend” sounds warm when said softly—but cold if too abrupt.
- 💬 Non-Verbal Cues: In Arabic or Hindi, pairing your greeting with a nod or smile matters just as much as pronunciation.
🌟 Why Learn “Good Evening” in Other Languages?
Here’s why mastering this greeting in multiple tongues is both fun and functional:
- ✈️ Travel Smart: Instantly connect with locals during evening outings or check-ins.
- 🧠 Boost Brainpower: Multilingual learning strengthens memory and sharpens your thinking.
- 🤝 Cultural Respect: Saying “Good evening” in someone’s native tongue earns trust and appreciation.
- 📚 Language Building Block: Evening greetings are a gateway into deeper vocabulary and conversation.
- 🌐 Better Global Communication: Ideal for international meetings, networking, or casual encounters.