bonu
/ˈbɔ.nu/
The English word "good" is translated into Sicilian as bonu.
bonu is used as an adjective to describe something that is pleasant or enjoyable. You can also use it in common greetings such as Bona sera to say "good evening".
Meaning: pleasant, enjoyable (adj)
Which one should you use?
While bonu is the most common word for "good", you might use Beddu in informal situations to mean "good" in the sense of something being beautiful or nice.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending to agree with the noun it describes: use bona for feminine singular nouns and boni for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
bonu is pronounced /ˈbɔ.nu/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Sicilian, the phrase bonu picciottu is often used ironically to describe a 'smart aleck' or someone who overestimates their own cleverness.
- While bonu describes something pleasant, the Sicilian word beddu can shift from meaning 'good' or 'beautiful' to having a flirtatious undertone when describing a person.
- The word bonu shares the same Latin ancestor as the English word 'bonus', which refers to something extra or good.
Examples in context
- Bona jornata!Good day!
- È un bonu tempu.It is a good time.
- Aviti passatu un bonu jornu.You had a good day.
- È un bonu libbru.It is a good book.
Example conversation
Salvatore and Giulia are talking about a trip they took.
- SalvatoreComu fu u viaggiu?How was the trip?
- GiuliaFu bonu, Salvatore.It was good, Salvatore.
- SalvatoreE u postu era bonu?And was the place pleasant?
- GiuliaSì, era proprio bonu.Yes, it was really pleasant.
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.
