Understanding the basics and language of writing a letter is vital. Writing in Spanish is a bit difficult, especially if you are from Franco country or America.
That’s why it’s expedient for you to learn the primary Spanish language and writing tone. You can communicate better and feel more confident in your linguistic abilities.
This article will show you everything you need to know about writing a letter in Spanish.
Whether you’re writing a letter to a Spanish-speaking friend or preparing a formal business letter, the greetings and salutations in this article will help give your letters the appropriate tone.
Table of Contents
How to Write a Letter in Spanish
Normally, every letter, whether a formal or informal letter has three major parts:
- Beginning
- Body
- Closure
The beginning comprises the address and salutation. The body of a letter consists of the subject and message the letter intends to communicate, while the closure includes a closing greeting. This format also goes with when writing a letter in Spanish.
Let’s break it down more!
Beginning a Letter in Spanish
Taking time to address your receiver is the first step to starting a letter in Spanish. Here are some Spanish greeting options commonly used when addressing a Spanish letter:
- A quien pueda interesar: A quien corresponda: To whom it may concern,
- Estimado señor o señora: Dear Sir or Madam
- Estimado(a) Sr. / Sra. / Srta: Dear Mr. / Mrs. / Ms.
- Hola: Hi, / Hi there, / Hey
Remember to separate your greeting with a colon (:), especially when writing formal letters.
For instance:
- Estimado señor: Dear Sir:
Read Also: How To Start A Letter In Spanish In 2022 | Sample
The Body of a Spanish Letter
The body of the letter is vital because that’s where the message is passed. Remember to use a formal tone or language when writing a business or cover letter.
For a formal writing, here are some come sentences or phrases to use:
- Adjunto encontrará: Attached please find
- Lo/la estoy contactando sobre: I am reaching out regarding
- Te escribo porque: I’m writing you because
- Por favor déjeme saber si puedo ser de alguna otra ayuda: Please let me know if I can be of any further help.
- Por favor no dude en contactarme si necesita más información: Please contact me if you require any further information.
- Gracias por su respuesta rápida.
For Informal Letters:
- Tanto tiempo sin hablarnos: Long time no talk.
- ¡Tanto tiempo!: It’s been a while!
- ¿Cómo te VA?: How are you doing?
- ¿Cómo te va todo?: How’s everything going with you?
- Espero que estés bien: Hope you’re doing well.
- Encantado(a) de ayudarte(le): Happy to help!
- ¡Nos vemos!: See you!
Remember that Spanish has formal and informal forms of you:
- You use Tú when talking to your friends or age grades.
- You use Usted when talking to someone you don’t know, especially if the person is older than you.
Ending a Letter
To end a letter in Spanish, there are different phrases you can use.
Here are some of them:
For Informal Letter
- Un saludo: Cheers
- Saludos: Best
- Seguimos en contacto: We’ll / Let’s keep in touch
- Espero saber de ti pronto: Hope to hear from you soon
- Con cariño,/ Besos: Love
- Con Amor: With love
- Cuídate: Take care
- Mantente en contacto; Keep in touch
- Hablamos pronto: Talk soon
- Muchas gracias: Many thanks
- Muchísimas gracias: Thank you very much
Formal Letter
- Quedo a la espera de sus noticias: Looking forward to hearing from you
- Quedo a la espera de su respuesta: Looking forward to your reply.
- Saludos cordiales: Best regards
- Atentamente / Cordialmente: Sincerely, / Sincerely yours, / Yours sincerely, / Yours faithfully,
Now that you know the different parts of a letter and what to say, check out some example letters below!
English | Spanish | English | Spanish |
To build or to construct | Construir | To make good use of something | Aprovechar |
To elaborate | Elaborar | To enhance | Potenciar |
To create | Crear | To foment | Fomentar |
To implement | Implementar | To lead | Dirigir |
To innovate | Innovar | To coordinate | Coordinar |
To establish | Establecer | To execute | Ejecutar |
To develop | Desarrollar | To lead | Liderar |
To Improve | Mejorar | To manage | Gestionar |
Make progress | Avanzar | To organize | Organizar |
To perfect or to Improve | Perfeccionar | To motivate | Motivar |
Restructure | Reestructurar | To select | Seleccionar |
Reinforce | Reforzar | To reduce | Reducir |
To update | Actualizar | To increase | Incrementar |
To guide | Guiar | To consolidate | Consolidar |
To promote | Promover | To produce | Producir |
To overcome | Superar | To grant | Conceder |
Read Also: How to End a Letter in Spanish in 2022 | Sample
Informal Letter Sample
Spanish
Hola Patricia,
¿Cómo te va? ¡Tanto tiempo sin hablarnos! ¿Vas a ir a la boda de Matt y Kim? ¡Me encantaría verte!
Hablamos pronto,
Andrés
English
Hi Patricia,
How’s it going? Long time no talk! Will you be going to Matt and Kim’s wedding? Would be great to see you!
Talk soon,
Andres
Spanish Formal Letters: Useful Tips
Usage of the personal pronouns you/your is the first rule (formal version of you). Usted is used to show respect for the recipient in written Spanish just like it is in spoken Spanish. This is crucial in business communication in particular.
Second, formal Spanish letters can seem overly formal to a native English speaker due to the tone and vocabulary used. However, it’s perfectly acceptable for the language to come off as a little flowery. Lean in: this is how a native writer writes.
Samples
FAQs
Salutations, please (With best wishes) I’m waiting for your news, eager to hear from you, and eagerly anticipating your response. (Waiting for your response,) Atentamente/Cordialmente, (Sincerely/With Best Regards,)
When introducing a Spanish letter with a casual salutation and indicating the various levels of your relationship to the recipient:
Hola, “Hello,” “Hello there,” “Hey,” “Queridos,” “Dear Pablo,” “Dear Pilar,” “Queridos,” “Dears,”
Sweet Thomas / Ana is known as Cario Tomas or Caria.
Any one of the following two can be used in casual letters: Hola: Informal letters can start with a simple hola, much like you would if you were casually greeting someone on the street in Spain. It is the most fundamental way to begin an informal letter and translates very simply to “hi,” “hi there,” or “hey.”
For example, you could write “My dear love” instead of their name. Or just “mi amor,” which means “my love.”
escribir
The verb “escribir” is all that is necessary to say “write” in Spanish. This is how you conjugate it: I write, or I escribo. You write when you describe. Él/ella/Ud.
Conclusion
Follow these tips when writing a letter in Spanish: use the proper form of address, start with a cordial greeting, state the purpose of your letter, provide any necessary details, and end with a polite closing.
With these guidelines in mind, you’ll be able to write a professional and courteous letter in Spanish.
Reference
- Baselang.com- Write a letter in spanish
- Spanish.yourdictionary.com– How to write a letter in Spanish
- Spanishdict.com– How to write a letter in Spanish
- Blog.lingoda.com- HOw-to-write-a-letter-in-spanish/