CEFR B1-B2
Spanish Business Phrases: Meetings, Emails, and Professional Communication
Spanish business culture is more formal than US business culture and slightly less formal than Japanese or German business culture. These phrases cover the standard arc of professional Spanish-language interactions with the register notes that determine whether they sound polished or stilted.
Pleased to meet you.
/ encantada conocerlo.
IPA /eŋkanˈtaðo / eŋkanˈtaða de konoˈseɾlo/
en-kan-TA-do / en-kan-TA-da deh ko-no-SEHR-lo
Default first-meeting phrase. 'Conocerlo' is the formal you (usted) form; 'conocerte' is the informal form. Use 'lo' in formal business contexts.
What do you do for work?
dedica ?
IPA /a ˈke se deˈðika usˈteð/
ah keh seh deh-DEE-ka oo-STED
Polite formal way to ask about someone's profession. The informal alternative is 'a que te dedicas?'
Could you send me the documents by email?
enviarme documentos correo electronico?
IPA /poˈðria embjaɾme los dokuˈmentos poɾ koˈreo elekˈtɾoniko/
po-DREE-ah en-vee-AR-meh los do-koo-MEN-tos por ko-RREH-oh eh-lek-TRO-nee-ko
Polite conditional opener. 'Correo electronico' is the formal Spanish for email; 'email' (loaned from English) is also widely used in business contexts.
I would like to schedule a meeting.
agendar .
IPA /me ɡustaˈɾia axenˈdaɾ ˈuna reuˈnjon/
meh goos-ta-REE-ah ah-hen-DAR OO-na reh-oo-nee-OHN
'Agendar' (Latin American) or 'concertar' (Spain) for scheduling. 'Una reunion' is the standard word for meeting.
Could we discuss this in more detail?
discutir detalle?
IPA /poˈðɾiamos diskuˈtiɾ ˈesto kon ˈmas deˈtaʝe/
po-dree-AH-mos dees-koo-TEER ES-to kon mahs deh-TA-yeh
Standard meeting phrase. 'Discutir' in Spanish carries less argumentative connotation than English 'discuss'; it simply means 'to discuss / debate / consider'.
I appreciate your time.
Agradezco .
IPA /aɣɾaˈðesko su ˈtjempo/
ah-gra-DESS-ko soo tee-EM-po
Formal phrase for closing or opening a business interaction. The verb 'agradecer' is the formal way to express gratitude in business contexts.
Could we set a deadline?
establecer fecha limite?
IPA /poˈðɾiamos estaβleˈseɾ ˈuna ˈfetʃa ˈlimite/
po-dree-AH-mos es-ta-bleh-SEHR OO-na FEH-cha LEE-mee-teh
'Fecha limite' is the standard Spanish for deadline. 'Plazo' is an alternative used widely in business and legal contexts.
What is your budget for this project?
presupuesto ?
IPA /ˈkwal es su pɾesuˈpwesto ˈpaɾa ˈeste pɾoˈʝekto/
kwal es soo preh-soo-PWES-to PA-ra ES-teh pro-YEK-to
We need to discuss the contract terms.
discutir terminos contrato.
IPA /nesesiˈtamos diskuˈtiɾ los ˈteɾminos del konˈtɾato/
neh-seh-see-TA-mos dees-koo-TEER los TEHR-mee-nos del kon-TRA-to
Could we postpone the meeting?
posponer ?
IPA /poˈðɾiamos pospoˈneɾ la reuˈnjon/
po-dree-AH-mos pos-po-NEHR la reh-oo-nee-OHN
I will get back to you soon.
respondere .
IPA /le responˈdeɾe ˈpɾonto/
leh res-pon-deh-REH PRON-to
Formal you (le). For informal contexts, 'te respondere pronto'.
Thank you for your prompt response.
pronta .
IPA /ˈɡɾasjas poɾ su ˈpɾonta resˈpwesta/
GRA-syas por soo PRON-ta res-PWES-ta
Standard formal closing for emails.
Regional notes
Spain
Spanish business culture maintains a stronger formal register than most Latin American countries. Usted (formal you) is the default in business meetings; the shift to tu (informal) is invited explicitly. Punctuality matters more in northern Spain (Bilbao, Barcelona) than in southern Spain (Seville, Malaga).
Mexico
Mexican business culture is famously personal: relationships matter more than strict transactional focus. Initial meetings often include substantial small talk before business is discussed. Usted is dominant in first meetings but shifts to tu more readily than in Spain.
Argentina
Argentine business culture sits between Mexican personalism and Spanish formality. Voseo (vos in place of tu) is the spoken norm but written business communication often defaults to formal usted. Italian-influenced expressive register is common in spoken business interactions.
Colombia
Colombian business culture is famously polite and formal. Usted is preserved longer than in Mexico or Argentina; the shift to tu happens later in the relationship. Business attire and meeting punctuality are strongly observed.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Should I use usted or tu in Spanish business contexts?
Default to usted in any first business meeting and in formal contexts (board meetings, legal contexts, communications with external clients). Switch to tu when explicitly invited or when the workplace culture defaults to tu (some tech companies and creative agencies). Reading the local norm is important; over-formality is rarely a mistake, over-informality occasionally is.
What is the right level of formality for Spanish business emails?
Higher than English business emails. Open with 'Estimado / Estimada' (Dear) plus the surname, never the first name in formal contexts. Close with 'Atentamente' (Sincerely) or 'Saludos cordiales' (Cordial greetings). The shift to more casual register is invited by the recipient using less formal markers themselves.
Is it appropriate to address business contacts by their first name in Spain?
Only after invitation. Spanish business culture defaults to 'Senor [surname]' or 'Senora [surname]' in first interactions. The shift to first names happens when the senior person uses your first name or explicitly invites you to use theirs. Pre-emptively using a first name is sometimes considered presumptuous.
How do Spanish business meeting times work?
Generally on time in Spain and Argentina; somewhat flexible in Mexico and Colombia where 5-15 minutes late is sometimes accepted; very flexible in Caribbean Spanish-speaking countries. Confirm punctuality expectations in advance for important meetings if you are not sure of the local norm.