buon appetito
/ˈbwɔn ap.peˈti.to/
The English phrase 'buen provecho' in Italian is buon appetito.
In Italian, you use buon appetito to wish someone a good meal before they begin eating. While it is the standard way to express this sentiment, you might also hear buon pranzo used specifically to wish someone a good lunch during the daytime.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase buon appetito literally translates to 'good appetite'.
Which one should you use?
buon appetito is the standard Italian phrase for wishing someone a good meal. In contrast, buon pranzo specifically means 'good lunch' and is used casually during the daytime.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of buon appetito is /ˈbwɔn ap.peˈti.to/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the Spanish phrase 'buen provecho' when they intend to speak Italian. Use buon appetito instead.
Did you know?
- In very formal or elite Italian dining circles, saying buon appetito is actually considered a breach of etiquette. A host might avoid the phrase altogether to avoid making a subtle, awkward comment about a guest's hunger.
- The word appetito is used in Italian to describe a 'longing' or 'desire' for non-food items, such as a hunger for success.
- The Italian appetito and English 'appetite' both come from the Latin 'appetere', which means 'to seek after'.
Examples in context
- Buon appetito a tutti!Enjoy your meal, everyone!
- Grazie, buon appetito anche a te.Thanks, enjoy your meal too.
- Il pranzo è pronto, buon appetito!Lunch is ready, enjoy your meal!
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are sitting down at a restaurant.
- MartinaLa pasta è arrivata, buon appetito, Alessandro!The pasta has arrived, enjoy your meal, Alessandro!
- AlessandroGrazie, Martina, buon appetito anche a te.Thanks, Martina, enjoy your meal too.
- MartinaGrazie, sembra deliziosa.Thanks, it looks delicious.
- AlessandroSì, è davvero molto buona.Yes, it is really very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buon appetito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries appetito, buon appetito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
