Common Spanish phrases to be used in a letter?
I have to write a letter in Spanish for a test tomorrow, but don’t know what it will have to be about. Anyone know some expressions that can be used in many contexts?
Is it a formal letter, or a letter to your family, friends, etc.?
This is for a formal letter
Header (encabezamiento) – There are various possibilities. What is strictly correct is hard to say; different writers will have different opinions, it is easier to say what is currently used in letters writing today. The following is true of Spain and seems to be true of South America too.
Querido María: – for friends
Querido Sr. Sánchez: – for someone known to you but where you would not use their first name. eg. friend of your parents, landlord, especially an elderly person.
Querido amigo: / cliente: / vecino / compañero: (friend / client / neighbour) – Especially a letter for advertising purposes where the writer is trying to establish an informal rapport. eg. mailshots. As companies begin to realize that women can also read, junk mail is now headed with the awkward:
Querido/a amigo/a: so that everybody is happy!
Muy señor mío:
Muy señores míos: – These forms are still very common in commercial correspondence although some consider them antiquated. They seem to be the equivalent of the Dear Sir or Dear Madam etc. for formal letters. (If the recipient is known to be female, Muy señora mía or Muy señora nuestra can be used in a reply.)
Señor:
Señores: – are also seen but frowned upon by purists as a translations of: Sir or Sirs.
Estimado Sr. Gómez: is also very common in commercial letters. The telephone, gas, electricity companies and banks in Spain start their letters this way when they send out their advertising bumph. It seems to fall midway between ‘Querido’ and ‘Muy señor mío’.
Apreciada Sra. Vázquez: – is also for formal mail but really quite friendly; perhaps too friendly.
Distinguido señor: – Just as it sounds. This term is for someone you feel is way above you socially or intellectually.
Sr. D. Miguel Muñoz: or D. Miguel Muñoz: – Equivalent to ‘Muy señor mío’ but where we wish to use the first name and surname. (Note: D. = Don) Use D. before the first name only.
Dña Pilar Torné: is the feminine form. (Dña = doña).
Sr. Fajardo: – As above but used before the surname.
The plural of Sr. is Sres. and Sra. becomes Sras.
Note that the abbreviated forms are with a capital letter and full stop (period): Sr. / Sra. and non abbreviated with a small letter: Muy señor mío: etc. After the header a colon is used and nothing else: Muy señores míos:
Here are some common formulas for beginning informal letters:
Querido amigo = Dear friend
Mi querida Ana = Dear Ana
Querida mía = My dear, My beloved
Queridísimos amigos = Dear friends
Opening Lines
Las felicitaciones sinceras de mi parte por…
My sincere congratulations for…
Quiero expresarte mi sincero agradecimiento por…
I want to Express my sincere thanks for…
Quiero expresarte mi más sentido pesame…
I want to express my deepest sympathy…
Closing Lines
How do we close the informal letter? We can use:
Favor de escribirme pronto…
Please write me soon…
Te espera ansiosamente…
Eagerly/Anxiously awaiting your reply…
Saludame a tu familia…
My regards to your family…
Endings
Cariñosamente = Affectionately yours
Besos y abrazos = With love, (or literally,) Kisses and hugs
De todo Corazón = With love
De quien te adora = With love
Con mucho cariño = With much affection
Is it a formal letter, or a letter to your family, friends, etc.?
This is for a formal letter
Header (encabezamiento) – There are various possibilities. What is strictly correct is hard to say; different writers will have different opinions, it is easier to say what is currently used in letters writing today. The following is true of Spain and seems to be true of South America too.
Querido María: – for friends
Querido Sr. Sánchez: – for someone known to you but where you would not use their first name. eg. friend of your parents, landlord, especially an elderly person.
Querido amigo: / cliente: / vecino / compañero: (friend / client / neighbour) – Especially a letter for advertising purposes where the writer is trying to establish an informal rapport. eg. mailshots. As companies begin to realize that women can also read, junk mail is now headed with the awkward:
Querido/a amigo/a: so that everybody is happy!
Muy señor mío:
Muy señores míos: – These forms are still very common in commercial correspondence although some consider them antiquated. They seem to be the equivalent of the Dear Sir or Dear Madam etc. for formal letters. (If the recipient is known to be female, Muy señora mía or Muy señora nuestra can be used in a reply.)
Señor:
Señores: – are also seen but frowned upon by purists as a translations of: Sir or Sirs.
Estimado Sr. Gómez: is also very common in commercial letters. The telephone, gas, electricity companies and banks in Spain start their letters this way when they send out their advertising bumph. It seems to fall midway between ‘Querido’ and ‘Muy señor mío’.
Apreciada Sra. Vázquez: – is also for formal mail but really quite friendly; perhaps too friendly.
Distinguido señor: – Just as it sounds. This term is for someone you feel is way above you socially or intellectually.
Sr. D. Miguel Muñoz: or D. Miguel Muñoz: – Equivalent to ‘Muy señor mío’ but where we wish to use the first name and surname. (Note: D. = Don) Use D. before the first name only.
Dña Pilar Torné: is the feminine form. (Dña = doña).
Sr. Fajardo: – As above but used before the surname.
The plural of Sr. is Sres. and Sra. becomes Sras.
Note that the abbreviated forms are with a capital letter and full stop (period): Sr. / Sra. and non abbreviated with a small letter: Muy señor mío: etc. After the header a colon is used and nothing else: Muy señores míos:
Here are some common formulas for beginning informal letters:
Querido amigo = Dear friend
Mi querida Ana = Dear Ana
Querida mía = My dear, My beloved
Queridísimos amigos = Dear friends
Opening Lines
Las felicitaciones sinceras de mi parte por…
My sincere congratulations for…
Quiero expresarte mi sincero agradecimiento por…
I want to Express my sincere thanks for…
Quiero expresarte mi más sentido pesame…
I want to express my deepest sympathy…
Closing Lines
How do we close the informal letter? We can use:
Favor de escribirme pronto…
Please write me soon…
Te espera ansiosamente…
Eagerly/Anxiously awaiting your reply…
Saludame a tu familia…
My regards to your family…
Endings
Cariñosamente = Affectionately yours
Besos y abrazos = With love, (or literally,) Kisses and hugs
De todo Corazón = With love
De quien te adora = With love
Con mucho cariño = With much affection
References :
Profuy