Using Spanish Salutations
Spanish Business Letter Closings and Personal E-mails Sign Offs
Jan 31, 2009
Whether the writer is drafting a cover letter for a job where he or she must speak Spanish or simply signing off a casual e-mail to a friend abroad, using a Spanish salutation makes as an engaging way to end a letter.
These Spanish salutations are drawn, in part, from the Oxford Spanish Dictionary (2003).
Using Formal Spanish Salutations in Business Letter Closings
When writing a cover letter or formal business letter, the most respectful way to end the letter in Spanish is by using the closing salutation "Le saluda atentamente". This is the equivalent of the English "Yours faithfully" or "Sincerely" - closing salutations that offend no one and are appropriate for most business letters. When choosing a closing salutation for multiple addressees "Les saluda atentamente" is grammatically correct.
Using a Spanish closing salutation can be the perfect way to add a personal element whether the writer is corresponding with a business colleague in Mexico or applying for a job with a company that has a headquarters in Spain. Other formal Spanish Salutations include:
- Atentamente (which literally means "Attentively")
- A usted atentamente (meaning "Yours sincerely")
And for business contacts with whom the writer has a more familiar relationship, "Un cordial saluda", which means "Kindest regards", strikes a nice balance between a respectful business tone and a friendly letter closing.
Friendly Spanish Salutations for Ending Letters to Friends and Family
Not all letters will require a formal Spanish salutation. For writers who are penning holiday cards, letters to friends, and notes of well wishing, there are plenty of Spanish closing salutations that are more friendly than the previously noted formal closings.
Spanish salutations appropriate for e-mails to friends and personal letters include:
- Un brazo (a warm Spanish letter closing literally meaning "A hug")
- Besos y abrazos (meaning "Kisses and hugs")
- Un fuerte abrazo (which translates as "All the best")
- Mis mejores deseos (which loosely means "Best wishes")
- Afectuosamente (another friendly Spanish salutation meaning "Affectionately")
- Un afectuosamente saludo (which simply translates as "Yours")
- Cariñosos saludos (meaning "Kind regards")
- Que te vaya bien (a Spanish salutation meaning "Take care")
- Hasta pronto (a casual Spanish closing meaning "See you soon" - perfect for an e-mail sign off)
And for those signing off a Valentine's Day love letter in Spanish, "Un beso" translates as "A kiss".
Choosing the Best Spanish Letter Closing and a Respectful Salutation
When writing in one's own language, choosing the correct salutation is important. When drawing on closing salutations from another language, such as Spanish, choosing a respectful salutation becomes essential.
When selecting a Spanish salutation, consider first to whom the letter is addressed. For any professional letters or letters that could possibly be considered formal, err on the side of selecting a more formal Spanish salutation.
