Parts of the Day
Evening
Evening is the period when the sky starts getting dark, usually between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
People are generally still awake, working, studying, eating dinner, or socializing during the evening.
Night
Night is the period when it is dark and people are generally relaxing or sleeping.
Night usually begins later in the evening and continues until the early morning hours.
Good Evening
Use “Good evening” to say hello after approximately 6:00 PM.
It is commonly used:
- at restaurants;
- in professional situations;
- in formal conversations;
- in speeches and presentations.
Examples
- “Good evening, do you have a reservation?” (at a restaurant)
- “Good evening, Tom. How are you?” (to a colleague)
- “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen…” (in a speech)
Important
In general, “good evening” sounds a little more formal.
Friends do not usually say “good evening” to each other. They are more likely to say:
- “Hi”
- “Hello”
- “What’s up?”
- “Hey”
Good Night
Use “Good night” to say goodbye, especially:
- when leaving to go home;
- when ending a conversation late at night;
- before going to bed.
Family members commonly say “good night” before sleeping.
Examples
- “Good night, Janet. See you tomorrow.”
- “Good night, mom. I’m going to bed.”
Important Difference
| Expression | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Good evening | Greeting | “Olá / Boa noite” |
| Good night | Farewell | “Tchau / Boa noite” |
Simple Rule:
- Good evening = hello
- Good night = goodbye
Authentic Examples
Opening of a Television Program (Greeting)
“Hello, good evening and welcome: The David Frost story. Sir David Frost is famous the world over for his interviews with presidents and prime ministers, but his journalistic side is just one part of his repertoire.” (BBC)
Translation:
“Olá, boa noite e sejam bem-vindos: A história de David Frost. Sir David Frost é internacionalmente conhecido por suas entrevistas com presidentes e primeiros-ministros, mas o jornalismo é apenas uma de suas várias facetas.”
In this example, good evening is used to welcome the audience at the beginning of the program.
End of a Television Program (Farewell)
“Thank you so much to all of our guests, to you at home for being with us. We’ll see you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp Eastern. Good night, everybody.” (CNN)
Translation:
“Agradeço aos convidados pela presença e a vocês em casa pela audiência. Até amanhã às 20h em ponto (no horário da costa leste). Boa noite a todos.”
In this example, good night is used to say goodbye at the end of the program.
Practice
Complete with “good evening” or “good night”
- ____________, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our event.
- I’m going to bed now. ____________!
- ____________, sir. Do you have a reservation?
- See you tomorrow. ____________!
- ____________, everyone, and welcome to the show.
Extra Tip
Many Brazilian students translate both expressions simply as “boa noite”, but in English the situation is important:
- If you are arriving → Good evening
- If you are leaving or going to sleep → Good night
