Hola,
My wife works for a tire company in Phoenix AZ that has locations all over the Southwest. One of the smaller, one man locations is on the Texas/Mexico border, no matter what time of the day the guy that runs that location, who is Mexican answers the phone 'Bueno', not Buenos Días or Buenas Tardes.
Any thoughts?
Gracias,
Jeff
Answering the teléfono "Bueno"

JeffSobo
August 14, 2006

bkdamon
August 14, 2006
That's equal to "Hello", at least that's what I've been told.

Mauricio
August 22, 2006
Hello,
I can't say I've ever heard anyone answer the phone in that way but Mexicans are well known for their slang and shortening of sentences so I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually short for Buenos Dias or Buenas tardes...
I have heard the term "Bueno" used on shops before though. When the shop keeper looks up at you and asks you what would you like... "Bueno. ¿Que se le ofrece?" in that case "Bueno" literally means "Good" but it expresses the feeling of "Ok, I've finished doing what I was doing and now I can help you... "Good, now, what would you like?"
So looking at that you could also say that the person answering the phone “Bueno” actually means... "OK, what would you like?" (Doesn’t sound very polite though)
I hope I haven't confused anyone...
Mauricio.

HoustonPepper
August 22, 2006
Many of my Mexican friends, both those living in Mexico and those who have moved here, answer the telephone with "Bueno." Several have told me that it is the same as "Hello" here in the United States, and is considered a polite way to answer.

careyeroslib
September 13, 2006
I just registered, but I wanted to add that, in Mexico, everyone answers with Bueno and Bueno only. Usually with the emphasis on the final o sort've like BuenO

Kevin-M143
September 13, 2015
Hello,
Bueno (in my experience) means like
'How can I help you?' (in a more friendly tone if a family phone--or one's cell phone) and a more formal tone (but still can be friendly) if it is a business....
Bueno (in my experience) means like
'How can I help you?' (in a more friendly tone if a family phone--or one's cell phone) and a more formal tone (but still can be friendly) if it is a business....

Steven-W15
September 13, 2015
Interesting. Thanks for revisiting this thread.

Dan-H24
September 13, 2015
While listening to various audio and video in Spanish I have heard
people answer the phone with "Bueno." I think, but I could be
wrong, that it is a more common greeting used in Mexico. It seems
like here in Rocket Spanish they favor 'Alo".
My personal favorite, though, is "Dime" (or "Digame") Gets right to the point! My girlfriend thinks it is rude, but our friend Estela says it is not, just efficient use of words.
My personal favorite, though, is "Dime" (or "Digame") Gets right to the point! My girlfriend thinks it is rude, but our friend Estela says it is not, just efficient use of words.

Kevin-M143
September 14, 2015
Digame or simply "diga" is quite common in Spain (if I remember
right--lived there some many years ago)...it may be rude in
Mexico...the Spanish are direct ... not better or worse....just
different ways of doing things...both get the job done...
I have lived in Spain and Mexico...though I'm a yank....
---
and thanks to the others for revisiting this thread too...
maybe I should write in Spanish...
es que toma un poco más tiempo y cuidado (escribir en español) -- pero, eh, no hay que ser perfectos...¿verdad?
I have lived in Spain and Mexico...though I'm a yank....
---
and thanks to the others for revisiting this thread too...
maybe I should write in Spanish...
es que toma un poco más tiempo y cuidado (escribir en español) -- pero, eh, no hay que ser perfectos...¿verdad?