Breakdown of Descanse usted y que le vaya bien esta tarde.
ir
to go
y
and
descansar
to rest
que
that
bien
well
esta
this
la tarde
the afternoon
.
period
usted
you (formal)
le
to you (formal)
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Questions & Answers about Descanse usted y que le vaya bien esta tarde.
What verb form is in bold in Descanse?
It’s the formal affirmative command (imperative) for usted, which uses the present subjunctive: (usted) descanse. Related forms:
- tú: descansa
- vosotros: descansad
- ustedes: descansen Negative formal command: no descanse.
Do I have to include usted after Descanse?
No. Descanse already signals formality. Adding usted (as in Descanse usted) adds emphasis, clarity, or contrast. You can also front it: Usted descanse, which is more emphatic.
How would I say this informally or to several people in Spain?
- To a friend (tú): Descansa y que te vaya bien esta tarde.
- To several friends (vosotros, Spain): Descansad y que os vaya bien esta tarde.
- To several people formally (ustedes): Descansen y que les vaya bien esta tarde. Note: It’s always vaya in que … vaya bien, even with plural recipients, because the implied subject is “things/it,” not “you.” Hence: que os vaya/les vaya, not “vayáis/vayan.”
Why is it le in que le vaya bien?
Because Spanish uses the structure ir bien/mal a alguien (“to go well/badly for someone”). The person is an indirect object: me/te/le/nos/os/les. Here le refers politely to usted (and doesn’t show gender). This is not leísmo; it’s a true dative.
Why vaya and not va?
This is the optative construction que + present subjunctive to express a wish: “May it go well for you.” Hence que le vaya bien, not “que le va bien.” Other examples: Que tengas buen día, Que te vaya genial.
Is the que required?
Yes. In this fixed optative pattern, que is part of the construction. Dropping it (“Le vaya bien”) sounds odd outside of special stylistic contexts.
Could I also say Que descanse y que le vaya bien esta tarde?
Yes. That version uses two wishes (both with que + subjunctive). It can sound a bit softer than mixing an imperative with a wish. Both are natural.
Where do pronouns go with imperatives, and why doesn’t Descanse have one?
Affirmative imperatives attach pronouns: Siéntese usted, Póngase el abrigo. Negative ones put pronouns before: No se siente, No se ponga. Descansar isn’t reflexive here, so no pronoun is needed: Descanse (usted).
Do I need a comma before y?
Normally no: Descanse usted y que le vaya bien esta tarde. A comma is optional to mark a stronger pause, but Spanish usually omits it before y linking two short main clauses.
What exactly does esta tarde cover in Spain?
Tarde runs from early afternoon into early evening (often up to around 8–9 p.m.). If you mean later at night, say esta noche instead.
Why doesn’t esta have an accent?
After the 2010 RAE recommendations, demonstratives like este/esta/estos aren’t accented unless there’s real ambiguity. Here esta modifies tarde, so no accent is needed.
Should usted be capitalized for politeness?
In modern usage, no: usted stays lowercase. In very formal letters/emails, some writers capitalize (Usted) as a courtesy, but it’s optional and less common in Spain.
Are there other natural, polite ways to say this in Spain?
Yes, for farewells you’ll hear:
- Que pase buena tarde.
- Que tenga buena tarde.
- Que descanse.
- Que le vaya bien. All are polite; que pase buena tarde is especially common in service contexts.
Is descansarse better here?
No. Use descansar (non‑reflexive). Descansarse exists regionally but is unnecessary and can sound off in most contexts of Spain.
How could I respond if someone tells me this?
Polite replies include:
- Gracias, igualmente.
- Muchas gracias. Que tenga (usted) buena tarde.
- Gracias, que le vaya bien a usted también.
Can I flip the order of the two parts?
Yes: Que le vaya bien esta tarde y descanse usted. The meaning is the same; the change just shifts the emphasis/order of the wishes.