buon appetito
/ˈbwɔn ap.peˈti.to/
The English phrase "eat well" can be said in Italian as buon appetito.
buon appetito is a phrase used as a social convention to signal the start of a meal and to wish others enjoyment of their food. If you want to express the more elaborate idea of "enjoy good food," you might use Godere di buon cibo.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase buon appetito literally translates to "good appetite."
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?
buon appetito is used to wish someone a pleasant meal before they start eating. A common polite response to this is grazie, altrettanto, which means "thanks, same to you."
Did you know?
- While many cultures use a phrase to bless the food, some strictly traditional Italians consider saying buon appetito slightly impolite because it focuses on the physical sensation of hunger rather than the quality of the meal.
- While buon appetito is the standard wish, it is common for Italians to simply say buon pranzo for lunch and buona cena for dinner.
- The word appetito shares an ancestor with the English word 'appetite', both tracing back to the Latin 'appetitus', which means 'a desire or striving after'.
Examples in context
- Sai cucinare davvero bene! Mangiamo bene quando sei in cucina.You're a really good cook! We eat well when you're in the kitchen.
- 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
Sofia and Lorenzo are sitting down at a restaurant.
- SofiaLa pasta è arrivata. Buon appetito, Lorenzo!The pasta has arrived. Enjoy your meal, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoGrazie mille, Sofia. Buon appetito anche a te.Thanks a lot, Sofia. Enjoy your meal too.
- SofiaSembra davvero deliziosa.It looks really delicious.
- LorenzoSpero che ti piaccia.I hope you like it.
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.
