bom apetite
/ˈbõ a.peˈt͡ʃi.t͡ʃi/
The phrase "buen provecho" in Portuguese is bom apetite.
The phrase bom apetite is used to wish someone a good meal right before they begin eating or when you see others starting to eat.
Which one should you use?
While buen provecho is Spanish, the standard way to say 'bon appétit' in Portuguese is bom apetite.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbõ a.peˈtʃi.tʃi/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In some traditional circles, wishing someone bom apetite is considered an interruption to the meal rather than a kindness.
- In Brazil, saying bom apetite to strangers in a restaurant is a common social gesture of politeness, even if the speaker is not dining.
- The phrase bom apetite is a calque, meaning it is a word-for-word translation of the French 'bon appétit'.
Examples in context
- O jantar está pronto, bom apetite.Dinner is ready, enjoy your meal.
- Bom apetite a todos!Enjoy your meal, everyone!
Example conversation
Mariana and Lucas are sitting down to eat lunch at home.
- MarianaA comida está na mesa, bom apetite, Lucas.The food is on the table, enjoy your meal, Lucas.
- LucasObrigado, Mariana. Bom apetite para você também.Thank you, Mariana. Enjoy your meal too.
- MarianaObrigada! Está com um cheiro ótimo.Thank you! It smells great.
- LucasSim, está parecendo delicioso.Yes, it looks delicious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bom apetite, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apetite, bom, bom apetite, CC BY-SA 4.0.
