Letter writing in Spanish: Essential greetings and techniques

Writing a letter in Spanish can be extremely useful in certain situations, in addition to bringing back memories of the good old days before the internet. Indeed, even if you aren’t going to sit down with a quill and a bottle of ink to write a long-winded letter on parchment paper, there are numerous situations in which a formal or informal letter would increase your chances of getting your message across.

There are numerous types of letters that you can write in Spanish, ranging from love letters to letters of complaint, each with its purpose. As a result, each letter requires slightly different terminologies and, in some cases, formats.

In this article, we’ll review several letters in Spanish to help you find the right kind of letter to suit the occasion.

How to write a letter in Spanish?

If you think writing a letter is a thing of the past, you may be surprised. You have probably not considered writing a letter in a long time because you are already very familiar with the English letter format. However, writing a letter in Spanish is a little different because you must learn different formatting guidelines, letter etiquette, and some new vocabulary.

Learning how to write a letter in Spanish can help you do the following, even in 2023:

• Sending a business letter can help you make a good first impression with your clients and build long-term relationships.
• Although email etiquette differs from physical letters, an email’s body closely resembles a traditional letter’s structure.
• Nothing will ensure your voice is heard more than submitting a formal written letter to headquarters.

Key letter writing vocabulary

Spanish	English	Example sentence	English
Tamaño carta	Letter size (A4)	Recuerda imprimir tu CV en una hoja tamaño carta.	Remember to print your resume on letter-size paper.
Tamaño oficio	Legal size	Solo utilizamos hojas tamaño oficio para este tipo de proyectos.	We only use legal-size paper for these types of projects.
Sobre	Envelope	Ya escribí mi carta, pero necesito un sobre para enviarla.	I already wrote my letter, but I need an envelope to mail it.
Estampillas / postales	Stamps	La tienda de conveniencia de la esquina vende estampillas.	The convenience store in the corner sells stamps.
Membrete / hoja membretada	Letterhead	Esta carta es muy formal, tiene membrete y todo.	This letter is very formal, it’s got a letterhead and everything.
Correo electrónico	E-mail	¿Por qué no mejor envías tu carta por correo electrónico?	Why don’t you send your letter by email instead?
Correo postal	Postal service	Los envíos por correo postal son seguros pero bastante lentos.	Mail sent by the postal service is very safe but also very slow.
Oficina postal	Post office	La oficina postal debe de tener sobres y estampillas.	The post office should have envelopes and stamps.
Remitente	Sender	La dirección escrita en la parte inferior del sobre es la del remitente.	The address written in the lower part of the envelope is the sender’s.
Destinatario	Receiver	Lo más importante es asegurarte que la dirección del destinatario esté bien escrita.	The most important part is making sure that the address of the receiver is written correctly.
Dirección	Address	¿A qué dirección le enviamos su paquete?	What address should we mail your package to?
Código postal	Zip code	Tengo su dirección, pero no me sé el código postal.	I have his address, but I don’t know his zip code.
Enviar	To send	Necesito tu dirección, te voy a enviar un paquete.	I need your address, I’m going to send you a package.
Recibir	To receive	No he recibido ninguna carta en los últimos dos meses.	I haven’t received any letters in the past two months.
Entregar	To deliver	El cartero pasa a entregar todas las mañanas.	The mailman delivers the mail every morning.
Firma	Signature	No entregaron mi paquete porque no estaba en casa y necesitaba una firma.	They couldn’t deliver my package because I wasn’t home and they needed a signature.
Apartado postal	PO box	Estoy considerando contratar un apartado postal para encargarse de todas mis cartas.	I’m considering hiring a PO box to manage all of my letters.
Postperson	Cartero/cartera	El cartero me ayudó a asegurarme de que la dirección estuviera bien escrita.	The mailman helped me ensure that the address was written correctly.
Correo certificado	Certified mail	Su diploma universitario llegará por correo certificado dentro de los próximos siete días.	Your university degree will be delivered by certified mail within seven days.
Correo basura	Junk mail	Necesito ayuda para categorizar todo el correo basura que recibo en mi apartado postal.	I need help categorizing all the junk mail I receive in my PO box.

There are several business Spanish courses that can help you expand Spanish business vocabulary, business writing and communication.

Formatting a letter in Spanish

Letterhead: The letterhead should appear first on your letter, in the upper left corner. Your letterhead should include the company name, address, phone number, logo, and website, if applicable.

Date: The date should appear one space after the letterhead, aligned to the right.

Receiver’s address: The receiver’s address should be one space after the date, aligned to the left.

Greetings: Follow the address and align to the left.

Body: The body of the letter is by far the most adaptable component. It should come after the greeting and be formatted like normal prose.

Sign-off: The sign-off varies depending on the relationship between the sender and the receiver. We’ve included some formal and informal sign-offs below. It should be aligned to the left and slightly indented.

Signature: The signature should be at the end of the letter. It can contain your name and signature, or only one of the two. It should be aligned on the right.

How to write a formal or business letter in Spanish

Starting a formal letter with a strong business greetings in Spanish is one of the most effective ways to make a good first impression. This alone can help you stand out from the crowd if you want to win big by doing business in Spanish. It is worth noting that Spanish greetings are followed by a colon, whereas English greetings are followed by a comma. Here are some examples to demonstrate what we mean.

Spanish	English	Notes
Estimado: / Estimada:	Dear Sir, / Dear Madam,	Used when adding the name of the receiver is unnecessary.
Estimado señor _____: / Estimada señora _____:	Dear Mister _____, / Dear Mrs. _____	Used when you want to address the receiver by name.
Estimados colegas:	Dear colleagues,	Used when addressing multiple people at the same time. Note that colleagues implies that you’re at the same level, so don’t use it with superiors.
A quien corresponda:	To whom it may concern,	Used when the receiver is unknown.
A quien le pueda interesar:	To whom it may concern,	Used when the receiver is unknown.
Al área de _____:	To the department of _____,	Used when addressing an entire department or when you don’t know which person in a specific department will respond to you.
Reciba usted un saludo cordial	Please receive a warm welcome	Use this immediately after the initial greeting to be extra polite.
Espero que esta carta le encuentre bien	I hope this letter finds you well	Use this immediately after the initial greeting to be extra polite.
Espero que se encuentre en buena salud	I hope this letter finds you in good health	Use this immediately after the initial greeting to be extra polite.

Letter of inquiry

A letter of inquiry, known in Spanish as la carta de consulta, is a very versatile business document that can help figure out a number of issues. Generally used with other businesses, this type of letter can help you ask direct questions or follow up on past requests. Here are a few examples:

Spanish	English	Notes
Le escribo para preguntar acerca de _____.	I’m writing to inquire in regards to _____.	Can be used to ask any type of question.
Por medio de la presente, me comunico para solicitar información sobre _____.	Through this means, I am communicating to request information regarding _____.	Formal request for information.
Me comunico para hacer la petición oficial para _____.	I’m communicating to make an official petition for _____.	Formal petition request.
Solicita: _____.	Request: _____.	Direct way to make a request.
Suplica: _____.	Plea: _____.	Direct way to make an urgent request.

How to sign off or end a formal letter in Spanish

Spanish	English	Notes
Le agradezco de antemano por su atención.	Thank you in advance for your attention,	Most formal.
Atentamente,	Attentively,
Cordialmente,	Cordially,
Saludos cordiales,	Cordial greetings,
Sin otro particular, les saluda atentamente,	Without any other points, you’re greeted attentively by	Most formal.
En espera de su respuesta, le saluda atentamente,	Awaiting for your answer, you’re greeted attentively by	Most formal.
Con sus mejores deseos, se despide atentamente,	With their best wishes, you’re bid farewell attentively by	Most formal.
Quedo a su disposición,	I remain at your disposal,
Quedo a la espera de su respuesta,	I await for your response,
Con mis mejores deseos,	With my best wishes,
Reciba un cordial saludo,	Receive a cordial greeting,	Most formal.
Respetuosamente,	Respectfully,

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Frequently asked questions

Are there regional variations in Spanish letter greetings?

Yes, there can be variations based on regional customs and preferences. It’s advisable to be aware of the specific cultural nuances in the Spanish-speaking region you are addressing.

Can I use English greetings in a Spanish letter?

While possible, Spanish greetings are recommended for a more culturally appropriate and respectful tone. It also shows an effort to communicate in the recipient’s language.

Are there gender-specific considerations in Spanish letter greetings?

Yes, Spanish greetings often vary based on the gender of the recipient. For example, “Estimado” is used for males, and “Estimada” for females in formal settings.

Conclusion

While writing a letter in Spanish, remember the essential techniques and greetings mentioned throughout this guide. We also recommend you use different Spanish learning apps to boost your Spanish speaking and writing skills.

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