Spanish phrase of the week

¡Que aproveche!

Enjoy your meal!

A2, elementaryYou can manage short, routine exchanges: shopping, directions, your family and your job, and simple messages.

How to use it

In Spain it’s polite to say ¡que aproveche! to anyone who’s eating, even if you’re not joining them. It does the same job as bon appétit.

It comes from aprovechar, to make good use of something. Que plus the subjunctive turns it into a wish: may it do you good.

The usual reply is gracias. Older people sometimes answer with ¿gustas?, a polite offer to share, which you’re expected to turn down: no, gracias, que aproveche.

Examples

  • Buenas, ¡que aproveche!

    Hello, enjoy your meal!

  • Gracias, igualmente.

    Thanks, you too.

  • Voy a aprovechar el buen tiempo para ir a la playa.

    I'm going to make the most of the good weather and go to the beach.

Good to know

People say it to strangers too, for example when walking past a table on a terrace or coming into a room where people are having lunch. A smile and gracias is all the answer it needs.

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