buon appetito
/ˈbwɔn ap.peˈti.to/
The Italian phrase buon appetito is used to mean enjoy your meal.
This phrase is used to wish someone a good meal before they start eating. It can be translated literally as 'good appetite' or more naturally as 'enjoy your meal.'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective buon (good) and the noun appetito (appetite).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Liguria region, specifically in Genoa, the variation Banappè! is used instead of the standard phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbwɔn ap.peˈti.to/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
When do people say it?
When someone says buon appetito to you, a common way to respond is Grazie, altrettanto!, which means 'Thanks, same to you!' if the person speaking to you is also about to eat.
Did you know?
- In some traditional or aristocratic Italian circles, saying buon appetito was historically considered impolite or a sign of poor breeding, as it focused too much on the physical hunger of the guests.
- The word appetito is an English cognate, descending from the Latin appetītus, which originally meant a 'longing' or 'desire'.
- The adjective buon is actually a truncated form of buono. While the full word is buono, it shortens to buon when placed before a noun starting with a vowel to make the transition between words smoother.
Examples in context
- Buon appetito a tutti!Enjoy your meal, everyone!
- Grazie, buon appetito anche a te.Thank you, enjoy your meal too.
- Il cibo è pronto, buon appetito!The food is ready, enjoy your meal!
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are sitting down for dinner.
- LorenzoLa pasta è pronta. Buon appetito, Martina!The pasta is ready. Enjoy your meal, Martina!
- MartinaGrazie mille, Lorenzo. Buon appetito anche a te!Thanks a lot, Lorenzo. Enjoy your meal too!
- LorenzoGrazie! Sembra davvero deliziosa.Thanks! It looks really delicious.
- MartinaSì, iniziamo a mangiare.Yes, let's start eating.
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.
