Formal letters and emails are written between people who have a working or diplomatic relationship, or who may not know each other. Informal letters and emails, on the other hand, are typically written between friends, family members, or others who share a close relationship.
It is important to know how to start a letter or an email in both a formal and an informal way in Spanish, so that you can choose wording that properly acknowledges the recipient’s status and the nature of your relationship with them.
In formal written communication in Spanish, it is common to add Sr. / Sra. (Mr. / Ms.) before the professional title, if the person’s name is not included.
EXAMPLE
|
|
Estimado Sr. Doctor |
If the person’s name is included, you would typically not add Sr. or Sra.
EXAMPLE
|
|
Estimado Doctor López / Estimado Juez Martínez |
Here is a list of formal greetings you may wish to use when writing a formal letter or email.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
|
Estimado… Estimada… |
Dear (for males)… Dear (for females)… |
|
Distinguido Señor: Distinguida Señora: |
Distinguished Gentleman: Distinguished Lady: |
|
Estimado Señor: Estimada Señora: |
Dear Sir: Dear Madam: |
|
Estimado Sr. Director: Estimada Sra. Directora: or Estimado Sr. (last name) / Estimada Sra. (last name): |
Dear Mr. Director: Dear Ms. Director: or Dear Mr. / Ms. (last name): |
|
Estimado Sr. Decano: Estimada Sra. Decana: or Estimado Dr. / Sr. (last name): Estimada Dra. / Sra. (last name): |
Dear (Male) Dean: Dear (Female) Dean: or Dear Dr. / Mr. (last name): Dear Dr. / Ms. (last name): |
|
Estimado Sr. Profesor / Estimada Sra. Profesora: Estimado Profesor / Estimada Profesora: or Estimado Dr. (last name) / Estimada Dra. (last name): |
Dear Professor: or Dear Dr. (last name): |
|
Estimado Doctor: Estimada Doctora: or Estimado Dr. (last name) / Estimada Dra. (last name): |
Dear (Male) Doctor: Dear (Female) Doctor: or Dear Dr. (last name): |
|
Estimado Sr. Gerente general: Estimada Sra. Gerenta general: or Estimado Sr. (last name) / Estimada Sra. (last name): |
Dear Mr. General Manager: Dear Ms. General Manager: or Dear Mr. / Ms. (last name): |
|
Estimado Sr. Representante de Ventas: Estimada Sra. Representante de Ventas: or Estimado Sr. (last name) / Estimada Sra. (last name): |
Dear Mr. Sales Representative: Dear Ms. Sales Representative: or Dear Mr. / Ms. (last name): |
|
Estimado Sr. Jefe de operaciones: Estimada Sra. Jefa de operaciones: or Estimado Sr. (last name) / Estimada Sra. (last name): |
Dear Mr. Head of Operations: Dear Ms. Head of Operations: or Dear Mr. / Ms. (last name): |
| A quien corresponda, | To whom it may concern, |
|
Distinguido Sr. Juez: Distinguida Sra. Jueza: or Distinguido Juez (last name) / Distinguida Jueza (last name): |
Honorable (Male) Judge: Honorable (Female) Judge: or Honorable Judge (last name): |
|
Excelentísimo / Distinguido Sr. Embajador: Excelentísima / Distinguida Sra. Embajadora: or Excelentísimo / Distinguido Embajador (last name): Excelentísima / Distinguida Embajadora (last name): |
Your Excellency / Honorable Mr. Ambassador: Your Excellency / Honorable Ms. Ambassador: or Your Excellency / Honorable Ambassador (last name): |
|
Estimado / Ilustrísimo Sr. Alcalde: Estimada / Ilustrísima Sra. Alcaldesa: |
Dear / Illustrious Mr. Mayor: Dear / Illustrious Ms. Mayor: |
|
Estimado Sr. Presidente / Estimada Sra. Presidenta: If it is a country’s president... Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente / Excelentísima Sra. Presidenta: If it is an institution’s president... Estimado Presidente (last name) / Estimada Presidenta (last name): |
Dear Mr. / Ms. President: If it is a country’s president... Your Excellency Mr. / Ms. President: If it is an institution’s president... Dear President (last name): |
|
Respetado Señor: Respetada Señora: |
Respected Sir: Respected Madam: |
As mentioned previously, informal letters and emails are written between family members, friends, or other people who have a close relationship. The following list provides some options for different ways you can greet people in your informal writing.
Note that Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches and Querido señor / Querida señora may be used in either formal or informal contexts.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Hola (nombre)! | Hello (name)! |
|
Buenos días (nombre), Buenas tardes (nombre), Buenas noches (nombre), |
Good morning (name), Good afternoon (name), Good evening (name), |
| ¡Hey (nombre)! | Hey (name)! |
|
Querido (nombre): Querida (nombre): |
Dear (male name): Dear (female name): |
|
Querido señor: Querida señora: |
Dear Sir: Dear Madam: |
|
Querido amigo: Querida amiga: |
Dear (male) friend: Dear (female) friend: |
Now that you’ve chosen your greeting, what’s the best way to start the body of the letter or email? As with greetings, you should choose the appropriate level of formality based on your relationship to the recipient.
When writing a letter for professional purposes, an appropriate opening is essential. Your opening sets the tone for your letter or email, and is an indicator of your written communication skills. Review these options for starting the body of a formal letter or email.
| Audio | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Con referencia a su correo electrónico de (fecha)... | With reference to your email from (date)... |
|
|
Con referencia a su carta de (fecha)... | With reference to your letter from (date)... |
|
|
Me dirijo a usted para solicitar… | I write to you to request… |
|
|
Me dirijo a usted de la manera más atenta con el fin de… | I address you in the most attentive way in order to… |
|
|
Quien suscribe, (nombre), se dirige a usted, con la finalidad de… | The undersigned, (name), addresses you, with the purpose of… |
|
|
Es un placer ponerme en contacto con usted… | It is a pleasure to get in touch with you… |
|
|
Lamento comunicarle que… | I regret to inform you that… |
|
|
Le notificamos formalmente... Formalmente le notifico… |
We formally notify you… I formally notify you… |
|
|
Con relación a su correo electrónico… | Regarding your email... |
|
|
Le agradezco de antemano su invitación a… | I thank you in advance for your invitation to… |
|
|
Me es grato comunicarme con usted para notificarle que… | I am pleased to communicate with you to notify you that... |
|
|
Señor (name), por medio de la presente… | Mr. (name), hereby… |
|
|
De manera cordial, me dirijo a usted con la finalidad de… | In a cordial manner, I am writing to you with the purpose of… |
|
|
Señor (name), el objetivo de la presente es solicitarle… | Mr. (name), the purpose of this letter is to request… |
|
|
El objetivo principal de esta carta es… | The main purpose of this letter is… |
|
|
Le remito esta carta con la finalidad de… | I am sending you this letter in order to… |
|
|
El siguiente correo electrónico tiene como finalidad invitarle… | The following email is intended to invite you… |
|
|
La razón por la que establezco contacto con usted es… | The reason I am contacting you is… |
|
|
Tengo el gusto de informarle de que… Me complace informarle de que… Tengo el placer de informarle de que… |
I am pleased to inform you that... I have the pleasure of informing you that… |
|
|
De acuerdo a su petición… | According to your request… |
|
|
Le envío el siguiente documento con el objetivo de obtener… | I am sending you the following document in order to obtain… |
|
|
Con respecto a su propuesta… | Regarding your proposal... |
|
|
El motivo principal de esta carta es exponer… | The main reason for this letter is to set forth… |
Read the following example letter from Emma to Señor Rivas Plata. See if you can determine the reason for the letter before you look at the English translation (located below the example).
Caracas, 10 de marzo de 2022
Estimado Señor Rivas Plata:
Con referencia a su correo electrónico del 28 de febrero de 2022, tengo el gusto de informarle que su solicitud de licencia médica fue aprobada por el departamento de recursos humanos.
Su licencia médica tiene una duración de 10 días y es efectiva desde el 11 de marzo hasta el 21 de marzo de 2022. Usted tiene que reiniciar sus actividades laborales el 22 de marzo de 2022.
Saludos cordiales,
Emma Ramirez Sandoval
Now that you’ve learned some formal phrases to begin written communication, you should also learn how to address your friends, family, and other people with whom you communicate more informally. Here are some phrases that you would use in your informal written communication.
| Audio | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
|
|
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? | Hi! How are you? |
|
|
¡Hola! Espero que estés bien. | Hello! I hope you are well. |
|
|
Te cuento que… | I’m letting you know that... |
|
|
Gracias por… | Thank you for… |
|
|
Lamento decirte que… | I’m sorry to tell you that... |
|
|
Gracias por tu invitación a… | Thank you for your invitation to… |
|
|
Me comunico contigo para decirte que… Me pongo en contacto contigo para decirte que… |
I’m contacting you to tell you that... |
|
|
Quiero pedirte… | I want to ask you… |
|
|
Te escribo para invitarte a… | I am writing to invite you to... |
|
|
Tengo el gusto de informarte que… | I have the pleasure to inform you that… |
|
|
Te informo de que… | I inform you that… |
The right ending is essential to successfully finish a letter or an email. Below, you will learn both formal and informal expressions that you can use to end your correspondence with the appropriate writing style. Be sure to choose an expression that makes it clear to your correspondent what next steps are required of them, if any.
First, let’s look at some formal farewells.
| Audio | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Atentamente Atentamente le/les saluda |
Sincerely Yours sincerely |
|
|
Se despide atentamente | A kind farewell |
|
|
Un atento saludo Un cordial saludo |
Cordial greetings |
|
|
Cordialmente | Cordially |
|
|
Saludos cordiales | Best regards |
|
|
Le saluda cordialmente Le saludo cordialmente |
Yours cordially |
|
|
Los mejores deseos. | Best wishes. |
|
|
Respetuosamente | Respectfully |
|
|
Un gusto establecer contacto con usted. | A pleasure to establish contact with you. |
|
|
Espero noticias suyas. | I hope to hear from you. |
|
|
Espero su respuesta. | I am looking forward to your response. |
|
|
Quedo al pendiente. / a la espera. | I’ll stay tuned. / I’ll await your response. |
|
|
Quedo al pendiente. / a la espera de sus comentarios. | I’m waiting for your comments. |
|
|
Reciba de nuestra parte un afectuoso saludo. | Receive an affectionate greeting from us. |
|
|
Que tenga un excelente día. | Have an excellent day. |
|
|
Gracias. Muchas gracias. |
Thank you. Thank you very much. |
|
|
Con todo mi agradecimiento | With all my gratitude |
|
|
Muy agradecido / agradecida. | Very grateful. |
|
|
Gracias de antemano. | Thanks in advance. |
|
|
Gracias por todo. | Thanks for everything. |
|
|
Gracias por su consideración. | Thanks for your consideration. |
|
|
Gracias por su tiempo. | Thanks for your time. |
|
|
Gracias por su ayuda. | Thanks for your help. |
|
|
Con aprecio | With appreciation |
|
|
Con gratitud / Con agradecimiento | With gratitude |
Now, take a look at some informal farewells that you would use with friends and family members.
| Audio | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Hasta pronto. | See you soon. |
|
|
Hasta luego. | See you later. |
|
|
Afectuosamente | Affectionately |
|
|
Besos y abrazos | Hugs and kisses |
|
|
Buena suerte. | Good luck. |
|
|
Con afecto Con amor Con mucho cariño |
With love |
|
|
Saludos | All the best |
|
|
Un abrazo / Abrazos | Hug / Hugs |
|
|
Te mando un abrazo | All my love (literally, “I send you a hug”) |
|
|
Un abrazo de oso | Bear hug |
|
|
Un abrazo caluroso | Warm embrace |
|
|
Un beso / Besos | Kiss / Kisses |
|
|
Te mando un beso. | I send you my love (literally, “I send you a kiss”). |
|
|
Un fuerte abrazo | Big hug |
|
|
Recibe un fuerte abrazo. | Receive a big hug. |
|
|
Te mando un fuerte abrazo y muchos besos. | I send you a big hug and lots of kisses. |
|
|
Te quiere | Loves you |
|
|
Tu amigo Tu amiga |
Your (male) friend Your (female) friend |
|
|
Mis mejores deseos | My best wishes |
|
|
Cuídate. | Take care of yourself. |
|
|
Deseándote lo mejor. Te deseo lo mejor. |
Wishing you all the best. I wish you the best. |
|
|
Espero verte pronto. | I hope to see you soon. |
|
|
Escribe pronto. | Write again soon. |
|
|
Estamos en contacto. Seguimos en contacto. |
Keep in touch. We’ll be in touch. |
|
|
Contento / Contenta de saludarte. Feliz de saludarte. |
Glad to greet you. Happy to greet you. |
|
|
En deuda contigo. | I owe you (literally, “In debt to you”). |
|
|
Qué tengas un buen / gran día. | Have a nice / great day. |
|
|
Un placer saber de ti. | It’s a pleasure to know about you (to know what’s happening with you). |
|
|
Feliz inicio de semana. | Happy start of the week. |
|
|
Feliz fin de semana. | Happy weekend. |
Good morning, dear Isabel,
How are you? I hope you are well. Thank you for the cookies you baked for me last week. They were delicious. I am writing to invite you to my graduation party. The party is at my house on May 25, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. We are going to have a lot of fun!
I send you a big hug and lots of kisses, and I hope to see you soon,
Abigail
Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY SOPHIA LEARNING. PLEASE SEE OUR TERMS OF USE
