Opening: formal or friendly
| writing to | opening |
|---|---|
| a company, a hotel, a school | Estimado señor: / Estimada señora: / Estimados señores: |
| a friend or family | Querido Pablo: / Querida Ana: |
Estimado agrees like any adjective. After the greeting Spanish uses a colon, not a comma, and the text starts with a capital letter, usually on a new line.
| Dear Sir: I would like to reserve a double room. | Estimado señor: Quisiera reservar una habitación doble. |
| Dear Principal: My son won't go to school tomorrow. | Estimada directora: Mi hijo no irá al colegio mañana. |
Polite and formal
A formal email uses usted (le escribo, su respuesta) and softens requests with quisiera. Tener en cuenta is to bear in mind: tenga en cuenta que…
| Bear in mind that the hotel doesn't have a car park. | Tenga en cuenta que el hotel no tiene aparcamiento. |
| I would like you to take my case into account. | Quisiera que tuvieran en cuenta mi caso. |
Insurance and websites
El seguro is insurance: el seguro del coche, el seguro de viaje. Don't mix it up with the adjective seguro, safe or sure. A través de means through: a window, or a website, an app or a person.
| Does the travel insurance cover the luggage? | ¿El seguro de viaje cubre el equipaje? |
| You can make the reservation through our website. | Puede hacer la reserva a través de nuestra web. |
Closing
Atentamente (Sincerely) closes a formal email, before your name. Un saludo is the neutral middle; to a friend, write Un abrazo. Recuerdos a… sends your regards to someone else.
| Thank you very much for your help. Sincerely, Ana García. | Muchas gracias por su ayuda. Atentamente, Ana García. |
| Regards to your parents. | Recuerdos a tus padres. |
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