Learn Spanish (Spain): ¡Que aproveche! Gracias, igualmente.

¡Que aproveche! Gracias, igualmente.

Enjoy your meal! Thanks, you too.

Breakdown of ¡Que aproveche! Gracias, igualmente.

likewise, you too (as a reply)

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Questions & Answers about ¡Que aproveche! Gracias, igualmente.

Why does the phrase start with Que?

Starting a sentence with Que is a very common way in Spanish to express a wish for someone else. It acts as a shortcut for saying 'I hope that...' or 'May...'. In this case, ¡Que aproveche! is like saying 'May it be of use!'.

What verb does aproveche come from, and what does it literally mean?

It comes from the verb aprovechar, which means to make the most of something or for something to be useful. When referring to a meal, you are wishing that the food does them good and that they enjoy it.

Do I need to change aproveche to a plural form if I am speaking to a group?

No, you do not change it. The verb form aproveche is referring to the food or the meal itself doing the work, not the people eating it. Because the meal is singular, the phrase is always ¡Que aproveche! whether you say it to one person or a whole table.

How does igualmente mean 'you too'?

The literal translation of igualmente is 'equally' or 'likewise'. It is the standard, everyday way to return a good wish in Spanish. So while we say 'you too' in English, Spanish speakers say 'likewise' to mean the exact same thing.