Noche vs Tarde
Tarde = afternoon until it's dark. Noche = night, after it's dark. Anochecer is the *process* of getting dark.
noche
Night, evening. The period of the day when it is dark outside.
NO-chehtarde
Afternoon, early evening. The period from after midday until sunset.
TAR-dehQuick Rule
Tarde = afternoon until it's dark. Noche = night, after it's dark. Anochecer is the *process* of getting dark.
Tarde has the sun (sol), Noche has the moon (luna). Anochecer is when they switch places.
- The exact cutoff time is flexible and varies by country, season, and even personal habit. 7-9 PM is the usual transition zone.
Comparison Table
| Context | noche | tarde | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Buenas noches | Buenas tardes | Use 'tardes' while there's still daylight. Switch to 'noches' once it's dark. |
| Specific Time | Son las 10 de la noche. | Son las 4 de la tarde. | 'Tarde' covers roughly 1 PM to 7-8 PM. 'Noche' is used from 8-9 PM onwards, or whenever it gets dark. |
| The Transition | Empieza a hacer frío por la noche. | Termino de trabajar por la tarde. | The transition happens in the early evening. The verb for this process is 'anochecer' (to get dark). |
When to Use "noche / tarde"
noche
Night, evening. The period of the day when it is dark outside.
NO-cheh
Greeting after dark
Buenas noches, ¿qué tal?
Good evening, how's it going?
Referring to nighttime activities
Me gusta ver películas por la noche.
I like to watch movies at night.
Specifying a time after dark
La cena es a las diez de la noche.
Dinner is at ten at night.
tarde
Afternoon, early evening. The period from after midday until sunset.
TAR-deh
Greeting in the afternoon
Buenas tardes, señor.
Good afternoon, sir.
Referring to afternoon activities
Siempre tomo un café por la tarde.
I always have a coffee in the afternoon.
Specifying a time before dark
La clase termina a las cinco de la tarde.
The class ends at five in the afternoon.
Contrast Examples
With "noche":
Cenamos a las 7 de la noche. (en invierno)
We have dinner at 7 at night. (in winter)
With "tarde":
Paseamos a las 7 de la tarde. (en verano)
We take a walk at 7 in the evening. (in summer)
The Difference: The choice depends on whether it's dark or light out. In winter, 7 PM is 'noche' because it's dark. In summer, it's still light, so it's 'tarde'.
With "noche":
La noche llegó muy rápido.
The night arrived very quickly.
With "tarde":
Fue una tarde muy productiva.
It was a very productive afternoon.
The Difference: These words define distinct blocks of time. 'Tarde' refers to the period after lunch but before dark, while 'noche' refers to the dark hours.
Common Mistakes
Buenas noches a las 6 de la tarde.
Buenas tardes a las 6.
Even if it feels like 'evening' in English, if the sun is still up, it's 'tardes' in Spanish. 'Noche' is reserved for when it's truly dark.
Me encanta el anochecer.
Me encanta el atardecer.
This is a subtle but common mix-up. 'Anochecer' is the verb 'to get dark'. The noun for the beautiful time of 'dusk' or 'sunset' is 'el atardecer'.
Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Noche vs Tarde
Question 1 of 2
You meet a friend at 8 PM in the summer when it's still light outside. What do you say?
Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'anochecer' and 'atardecer'?
They are very similar! 'Atardecer' is the noun for the time of day we call 'dusk' or 'sunset'—it often focuses on the beauty of the setting sun. 'Anochecer' is the verb 'to get dark', describing the process of night falling. You can say 'Me gusta el atardecer' (I like the sunset) or 'Vamos a casa al anochecer' (Let's go home at dusk).
If I say 'Buenas noches' when leaving, does it mean 'goodbye'?
Yes, just like in English. 'Buenas noches' can be used as a greeting when you arrive somewhere in the evening, but it's also commonly used to say goodbye for the night or when you're going to bed.
Is there a word for 'evening' in Spanish?
Not a single, perfect equivalent. Spanish divides the day differently. 'La tarde' covers the afternoon and what English speakers call 'early evening'. 'La noche' covers the rest of the evening and night. You just have to get used to thinking in terms of 'light' vs 'dark' periods.