bonu
/ˈbɔ.nu/
The Sicilian word for delicious is bonu.
bonu is used to describe something that is pleasing to taste. While it is the standard word for delicious in a culinary context, it is also the general word for good.
Meaning: pleasing to taste (adj)
Which one should you use?
bonu is the default form used for delicious or good.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending depending on the noun it describes. Use bona for feminine nouns like pizza or pasta and boni for masculine plural nouns like panini.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbɔ.nu/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- If you describe a person as bona in certain Sicilian dialects, it can shift from meaning 'good' to being a slang term for 'attractive'.
- In certain contexts, calling a person bonu can be an ironic way of saying they are naive or easily fooled, rather than actually 'good'.
- The word bonu shares the same Latin ancestor as the English word 'bonus', meaning a reward or something extra.
Examples in context
- Stu sucu è bonu.This sauce is delicious.
Example conversation
Salvatore and Agata are eating lunch at home.
- SalvatoreAgata, stu pursiceddù è bonu!Agata, this pork is delicious!
- AgataGrazzi, Salvatore, mi fa piaciri.Thanks, Salvatore, I'm glad you like it.
- SalvatoreVero, l'hai fattu assai bonu.Truly, you made it very delicious.
- AgataTi ringrazziu assai!Thank you very much!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
