Good afternoon: does it start at noon or at 3 pm?
Two irreconcilable views on when the afternoon begins have sparked a generational debate. Some say 12, others say 3 pm.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The exact time for the greeting: noon or 3 pm?
Saying "good afternoon" seems like an automatic decision, but a recent exchange shows that even that is not free of controversy. While some argue the afternoon starts at 12 noon, others insist it is only appropriate from 3 pm. A generational gap emerges: a 35-year-old participant defends the earlier time against those who place the cutoff at three in the afternoon.
Two opposing schools
On one side is the view that from 12:00 onwards it is already afternoon. "From 12 you say good afternoon," they claim. On the other, those who argue the switch happens at 15:00, and that in between the right choice is a generic "hello". The discussion includes jabs calling anyone who breaks the rule an "old man out of touch", suggesting the custom has an age-related component.
Football as the backdrop
The debate arises in a context of football fatigue: "sick and tired of the damn football," one confesses. Waiting for the afternoon (or late-afternoon) match is the backdrop. Perhaps that is why the precise timing matters: knowing when the afternoon starts determines when you can properly say "good afternoon" ahead of the match.
Why does such a simple convention generate disagreement? The answer may lie in the absence of a clear academic rule. Until the RAE (Spain's Royal Spanish Academy) weighs in, everyone will trinc their own clock.
Saying "good afternoon" seems like an automatic decision, but a recent exchange shows that even that is not free of controversy. While some argue the afternoon starts at 12 noon, others insist it is only appropriate from 3 pm. A generational gap emerges: a 35-year-old participant defends the earlier time against those who place the cutoff at three in the afternoon.
Two opposing schools
On one side is the view that from 12:00 onwards it is already afternoon. "From 12 you say good afternoon," they claim. On the other, those who argue the switch happens at 15:00, and that in between the right choice is a generic "hello". The discussion includes jabs calling anyone who breaks the rule an "old man out of touch", suggesting the custom has an age-related component.
Football as the backdrop
The debate arises in a context of football fatigue: "sick and tired of the damn football," one confesses. Waiting for the afternoon (or late-afternoon) match is the backdrop. Perhaps that is why the precise timing matters: knowing when the afternoon starts determines when you can properly say "good afternoon" ahead of the match.
Why does such a simple convention generate disagreement? The answer may lie in the absence of a clear academic rule. Until the RAE (Spain's Royal Spanish Academy) weighs in, everyone will trinc their own clock.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (20 replies).
More summaries
-
Macarena Olona posts topless selfie on the beach
Olona posts a topless selfie on the beach and the conversation focuses on sun damage, age and scrutiny of politicians' bodies
-
Summer in the Madrid sierra: tennis, beer and the social club
Tennis matches, Paulaner beer and a dip in the pool: that's what summer looks like in the residential estates of the sierra near Madrid, with the social club as the hub of leisure.
-
Spanish TV presenter Carmen Alcayde, 22 years her junior, announces engagement
Spanish presenter Carmen Alcayde has announced her engagement to Charli Martínez, who is 22 years younger. The age gap debate and misogynistic criticism have shaped the public reaction.
-
Baked or fried? The air fryer potato debate explained
An air fryer potato technique sparks a debate: are they baked or fried? Acrylamide as a chemical risk weighed against the convenience of the method.
-
From ministerial offices to the deli counter: former deputy PM's unlikely turn
A former deputy prime minister of Spain who handled millions across dozens of countries now runs a deli counter. The unusual move has stirred up political and labour debate.
-
Forero: Spanish athlete at the centre of a trans hoax on social media
Photos of the Spanish athlete Forero have sparked speculation about her gender identity. The facts: she is 22, from Huelva, and there is no trans record. Hoax or reality?