buongiorno e buonanotte
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no ˈe ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te/word by word
The English phrase "good morning and good night" is translated into Italian as buongiorno e buonanotte.
The phrase combines two common greetings: buongiorno is used to say "good morning" and buonanotte is used to say "good night".
Which one should you use?
While buonasera is a greeting used when arriving or seeing someone in the evening, buonanotte is used specifically when someone is going to sleep or leaving for the night.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no ˈe ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te/. The word has 8 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- If you use buonanotte while someone is still out for the evening, it can sound as though you are telling them to go to sleep immediately.
- The word buongiorno is a single word in Italian, formed by joining 'buono' and 'giorno' together into one unit.
- The word notte in buonanotte shares a root with the English word 'night' but also influences the word 'nocturnal' in English.
Examples in context
- Dico sempre buongiorno e buonanotte ai miei figli.I always say good morning and good night to my children.
- Non dimenticare di dire buongiorno e buonanotte.Don't forget to say good morning and good night.
Example conversation
Chiara is talking to Lorenzo about their daily routine.
- ChiaraLorenzo, dici sempre buongiorno e buonanotte?Lorenzo, do you always say good morning and good night?
- LorenzoSì, è importante essere gentili.Yes, it is important to be polite.
- ChiaraHai ragione, lo faccio anche io.You are right, I do it too.
- LorenzoAllora siamo d'accordo!Then we agree!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buongiorno, e, buonanotte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buonanotte, buongiorno, e, CC BY-SA 4.0.
