Good morning in Italian is Buongiorno (bwon-JOR-noh). It is really a daytime greeting: Italians use it from the moment they wake up until lunch or early afternoon, then move to Buonasera. It suits everyone, from your grandmother to a stranger in a shop. Friends and family may say Buondì or simply Ciao instead.
- Good morning
- Buongiorno
- Casual
- Buondì
- Have a good day (leaving)
- Buona giornata
- Switch to
- Buonasera, from mid-afternoon
- Level
- A1
When do Italians stop saying buongiorno?
There is no fixed hour. Some people say buonasera straight after lunch, others keep saying buongiorno until four or five o'clock, and habits vary from region to region. If in doubt, follow whatever the other person says first.
| Italian | Meaning | Time of day | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno! | Good morning / good day | Waking up to early afternoon | Any: works with tu and Lei |
| Buondì! | Morning! | Morning | Casual, family and friends |
| Ben svegliato! / Ben svegliata! | Morning, sleepyhead! | When someone has just got up | Casual; can be teasing if they got up late |
| Buon pomeriggio! | Good afternoon! | Afternoon | Mostly a parting wish rather than a greeting |
| Buonasera! | Good evening! | Mid or late afternoon onwards | Any |
Because it is such a small, easy word, buongiorno is often the first thing a nervous learner manages to say out loud. In chapter 1 of a Contos A1 romance set in Turin, a shy dog walker tries it out on a park with nobody in it:
Elena è timida. Dice piano: "Buongiorno, che bella giornata."What is the difference between buongiorno and buona giornata?
This trips up a lot of learners. Buongiorno is what you say on arrival. Buona giornata (have a good day) is what you say as you leave. A typical visit to a bar or a bakery starts with one and ends with the other.
Buongiorno! Un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore.
Good morning! A cappuccino and a croissant, please.
Grazie, buona giornata!
Thanks, have a good day!
On the way out.
Altrettanto!
You too!
The usual reply to buona giornata.
The evening pair works the same way: buonasera to greet, buona serata (have a nice evening) to leave. More on the night-time words is on how to say good night in Italian.
How do you say good morning to family?
Buongiorno is not stiff at home. Italians say it to their children, partners and grandparents every day, often with a pet name. In chapter 1 of a Contos A2 comedy, a grandmother walks into the kitchen in an unusually good mood:
"Buongiorno, tesoro! Ho dormito come un sasso," dice.From The Secret Recipe Book of Bakers' Street, chapter 1 (A2)
Buondì! Hai dormito bene?
Morning! Did you sleep well?
Ben svegliata! Il caffè è pronto.
Morning, sleepyhead! The coffee's ready.
Svegliata, ending in -a, to a woman or girl.
Buongiorno, amore.
Good morning, love.
Start an A1 Italian story set in a misty Turin park, and tap any word you don't know.
Read free in your browserIs it buongiorno or buon giorno?
Write it as one word: buongiorno. The two-word spelling buon giorno also exists and is not wrong, but the single word is what you will see almost everywhere today. The same goes for buonasera and buonanotte.
Buon is a short form of buono (good) used before masculine nouns, which is why it is buon pomeriggio but buona giornata and buona sera: giornata and sera are feminine.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce buongiorno?
Say "bwon-JOR-noh". The uo glides together into one syllable, gi sounds like the j in "jam", and the stress falls on gior. Roll or tap the r lightly.
How do you reply to buongiorno?
Say buongiorno back. To someone you address as Lei, you can add a touch of warmth with Buongiorno a Lei! (good morning to you). Between friends, buongiorno or ciao both work.
Can you say buongiorno in the afternoon?
Yes, in the early afternoon many Italians still do. Later in the afternoon most switch to buonasera. Listen to what shop staff say to the customer before you, and copy it.
What does buondì mean?
Buondì is a casual, slightly old-fashioned morning greeting built from buon (good) and dì, an old word for day. You will hear it among family and friends. It is also the name of a well-known Italian breakfast snack.