Breakdown of ¡Que tengas buen provecho, amigo!
el amigo
the male friend
tener
to have
que
that / than
bueno
good
el provecho
the benefit / the enjoyment
Questions & Answers about ¡Que tengas buen provecho, amigo!
Why does this sentence start with "que" instead of just saying "tengas"?
In Spanish, starting a sentence with que followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood (like tengas) is the standard way to express a wish for someone else. It acts as a shortcut for saying "I hope that..." (Espero que...).
Why is it "tengas" and not "tienes"?
Because this is a wish! Wishes triggered by que require the subjunctive mood. Tienes is the normal present tense used for stating facts (meaning "you have"), but tengas is the subjunctive form used for hopes and wishes (meaning "may you have").
Why is it "buen provecho" instead of "bueno provecho"?
Does "provecho" literally mean "meal"?
Not exactly! Provecho literally translates to "benefit" or "profit." The phrase buen provecho is a set expression that means "enjoy your meal" or "bon appétit." In Latin America, it is very common to say this to anyone who is eating or about to eat, even to strangers in a restaurant!
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