Bona Petite in Spanish | What To Say Before Eating

In Spanish, “¡buen provecho!” is the go-to way to wish someone a pleasant meal, and “¡que aproveche!” works great with friends.

You’ve probably heard someone say “bona petite” right as food hits the table. Most of the time, they mean the French phrase bon appétit.

Spanish doesn’t copy that phrase word-for-word in everyday talk. Spanish speakers usually wish you a good meal with ¡buen provecho! or ¡que aproveche!.

This article shows what to say, when to say it, how to answer back, and how to avoid the common slip-ups that sound odd to native ears.

Bona Petite in Spanish: What it means and the closest match

“Bona petite” isn’t standard French spelling, and it isn’t Spanish at all. It’s a common English-language misspelling of bon appétit.

If your goal is “the phrase people say right before eating,” Spanish has a natural, everyday match: ¡buen provecho! That’s the familiar line you’ll hear from waiters, family, and even strangers at the next table.

Spanish has another friendly option: ¡que aproveche! It lands well when you’re sitting down with friends, or when you want a slightly more personal tone.

Why “buen provecho” fits the moment

In Spanish, provecho is tied to benefit and gain, so the phrase carries the idea of “may it do you good.” The Real Academia Española includes buen provecho as a set expression used when someone is eating or drinking. See the RAE entry for “buen provecho” in the DLE.

That matches how the phrase works in real life: it’s a polite wish that fits right as the meal starts, and it still fits if you walk in and someone’s already mid-bite.

When “buen apetito” shows up and why it can sound off

You might spot “buen apetito” online as a direct translation of bon appétit. The catch is that in Spanish, buen apetito usually describes someone who has a strong appetite, not a phrase you toss across a table.

FundéuRAE addresses this directly and says using “¡buen apetito!” as a table phrase isn’t correct in standard Spanish usage. You can read their note at FundéuRAE: “¡buen provecho!”.

Saying bona petite in Spanish at restaurants and at home

The phrase you pick can shift with the setting. Not in a stiff, rulebook way. More like choosing “enjoy” vs “dig in.” Both work, one just fits the room better.

At a restaurant

If you’re the diner and food arrives, you can say “¡buen provecho!” to the people you’re with. If a server says it to you, a simple “gracias” is enough.

If you want to add a little warmth, you can reply “gracias, igualmente” (“thanks, same to you”) when someone else is eating too.

At home with friends

“¡Que aproveche!” can feel extra natural at home. It’s short, friendly, and sounds like something people actually say at a family table.

You can also say “¡A comer!” when everyone’s waiting for the first bite. It’s not a translation of bon appétit. It’s more like “let’s eat.”

If someone is already eating

This is where Spanish is pleasantly flexible. You can still say “¡buen provecho!” when you walk in and someone is mid-meal. It’s a polite acknowledgement and it doesn’t interrupt the moment.

In a class or learning context

If you’re studying Spanish and want a neat, reliable phrase, stick to ¡buen provecho! and ¡que aproveche!. They’ll travel well across countries and settings.

Instituto Cervantes even uses “¡Buen provecho!” as a title for Spanish learning material related to food and daily language. See Instituto Cervantes: “¡Buen provecho! Alimentos del mundo hispano”.

What to say and what to reply

These are the lines you’ll hear most, plus easy replies that won’t make you overthink it.

Easy phrases to say

• ¡Buen provecho! (classic, works almost anywhere)
• ¡Que aproveche! (friendly, common at home and with friends)
• ¡Provecho! (shortened version you’ll hear in some places)
• ¡A comer! (more like “let’s eat,” casual)

Easy replies

• Gracias. (simple, always fine)
• Gracias, igualmente. (warm reply when the other person is eating too)
• Igualmente. (short and common)

A quick note on tone

Spanish table talk often stays brief. A tiny phrase and a nod can be the whole exchange. That’s normal.

Now let’s pin it down with a practical chart you can use in the moment.

Common situations and the best Spanish phrase

Situation	What to say	Natural reply
Your food arrives at a restaurant	¡Buen provecho!	Gracias.
Server says it to you	(No need to repeat it)	Gracias.
Friends start eating at home	¡Que aproveche!	Gracias, igualmente.
You walk in and someone is already eating	¡Buen provecho!	Gracias.
Group meal, casual start	¡A comer!	¡Vamos!
You’re speaking to strangers nearby	¡Buen provecho!	Igualmente.
You want to be safe across regions	¡Buen provecho!	Gracias.
You’re learning and want a solid default	¡Buen provecho!	Gracias.

Spelling, accents, and the “bona petite” mix-up

If you typed “bona petite,” you’re not alone. It’s one of those phrases that gets passed around by ear, then turns into a dozen spellings.

Here’s the clean way to keep it straight: Spanish doesn’t use “bona petite.” Spanish most often uses buen provecho or que aproveche.

Where people get tripped up

One trap is trying to translate bon appétit piece by piece into Spanish. You end up with “buen apetito,” which reads like a description of appetite in Spanish, not a table phrase in many contexts. FundéuRAE’s note is the clearest reference point for this usage difference: “¡buen provecho!”.

Another trap is thinking Spanish needs an accent mark in “buen provecho.” It doesn’t. The stress lands naturally in pro-ve-cho.

What “apetito” means in plain dictionary terms

If you’re curious why “buen apetito” reads differently, the RAE definition of apetito is about desire and, in everyday use, the desire to eat. You can see that in the DLE entry for “apetito”.

So “buen apetito” can sound like “good appetite” as a trait, not “enjoy your meal” as a table wish.

Pronunciation that won’t trip you up

You don’t need perfect accent work to sound polite. You just need the rhythm.

Buen provecho

Say it in two beats: BWEN pro-BEH-cho. Keep it light and quick. The “ch” is like “ch” in “chip.”

Que aproveche

This one glides: keh a-pro-BEH-cheh. The “que” is a short “keh.” The “ch” stays the same “ch” sound.

A small detail that helps

In buen, the “n” can soften before the next word. You’ll hear it blend into the “p” of provecho. Don’t fight it. Let it flow.

Fast reference table for spelling and usage

What you want to express	Spanish phrase	Quick note
Polite wish as food starts	¡Buen provecho!	Most widely accepted default
Friendly wish with friends	¡Que aproveche!	Sounds warm and natural
Shortened version you may hear	¡Provecho!	Common in some places
Casual “let’s start” line	¡A comer!	Not a translation, still fits
Simple reply	Gracias	Always safe
Reply when the other person is eating too	Gracias, igualmente	Friendly, not formal
The common mix-up	“bona petite”	Misspelling of French, not Spanish

Small scripts you can borrow

If you want to stop overthinking and just say something that fits, steal one of these.

At a restaurant table

You: “¡Buen provecho!”

Friend: “Gracias.”

Walking past someone eating

You: “¡Buen provecho!”

Them: “Gracias.”

At home as everyone sits down

You: “¡Que aproveche!”

Others: “¡Igualmente!”

Final check: What to use if you only learn one phrase

If you only want one phrase that won’t steer you wrong, pick ¡buen provecho!. It’s simple, widely recognized, and backed by standard dictionary treatment as a set expression used at the table. The RAE DLE entry for provecho shows that “buen provecho” is used as a formula said to people who are eating or drinking.

Then add “gracias” as your reply, and you’re covered for most real-life moments.