Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buonasera | /ˌbwɔ.naˈse.ra/ | |
| buona sera | /ˈbwɔ.na ˈse.ra/ | alternative form |
buonasera is the most common way to say good evening in Italian. It can be used from the late afternoon until bedtime. If you are greeting a group of people, you can say buonasera a tutti to mean good evening, everyone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective buona (good) and the noun sera (evening).
Which one should you use?
While buonasera is used as a greeting when arriving, the phrase buona serata is typically used as a farewell to wish someone a pleasant rest of their evening.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
buonasera is more formal than ciao and is appropriate for use with strangers, elders or in professional settings. Note that ciao can also be used throughout the day, including in the evening.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˌbwɔ.naˈse.ra/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The root of sera is the Latin sērus, meaning 'late', a pattern also found in languages like Chinese and Mongolian.
- In Italy, the transition to using buonasera depends on local custom, but it is common to start using it as early as 4 PM or 5 PM.
- In many Italian dialects, such as Sicilian, the word for evening is 'sira', which is a close relative of the standard Italian sera.
Examples in context
- Buona serata a tutti.Good evening, everyone.This sentence is useful for wishing a good evening to a group using buona sera.Tatoeba #5281048 by Guybrush88, translation #2094776 by CK
- Buonasera, signore e signori.Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.This sentence shows a formal greeting to a group using buonasera.Tatoeba #7837636 by supercoolbeas30, translation #1597893 by fanty
- Buonasera. Vorrei un bicchiere di latte.Good evening. I'd like a glass of milk.This sentence shows how to use buonasera when beginning an interaction or request.Tatoeba #3499039 by Guybrush88, translation #3498198 by Objectivesea
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Francesco meet at a local cafe after sunset.
- SofiaBuonasera, Francesco.Good evening, Francesco.
- FrancescoBuonasera, Sofia. Come stai?Good evening, Sofia. How are you?
- SofiaBene, grazie. E tu?Fine, thanks. And you?
- FrancescoTutto bene, grazie.Everything is good, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good evening” translations and entries buonasera, buona sera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buonasera, sera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
