buongiorno tesoro
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no teˈzɔ.ro/word by word
The English phrase "good morning babe" can be translated into Italian as buongiorno tesoro.
This phrase is a romantic greeting used to say good morning to a partner or a loved one.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of buongiorno (good day/morning) and tesoro (treasure).
Which one should you use?
While buongiorno tesoro is a standard way to express this, you might also use buongiorno amore to say "good morning love".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase buongiorno tesoro is informal and intimate, intended for use with a romantic partner or a very close loved one.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no teˈzɔ.ro/. The phrase has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word tesoro shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'thesaurus', which originally meant a treasure or a storehouse of knowledge.
- Although buongiorno is used for 'good morning', it can be used as a greeting throughout the entire day until the early afternoon.
- If you want to increase the level of sweetness, you can use the diminutive form tesorino to say 'little treasure'.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno tesoro, hai dormito bene?Good morning babe, did you sleep well?
- Buongiorno tesoro, ti ho preparato il caffè.Good morning babe, I prepared coffee for you.
- Buongiorno tesoro, spero che la tua giornata sia fantastica.Good morning babe, I hope your day is fantastic.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are in their kitchen on a sunny morning.
- MatteoBuongiorno tesoro!Good morning babe!
- ChiaraBuongiorno amore mio, come stai?Good morning my love, how are you?
- MatteoBenissimo, grazie. Vuoi fare colazione?Very well, thank you. Do you want to have breakfast?
- ChiaraSì, con molto piacere.Yes, with great pleasure.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buongiorno, tesoro) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buongiorno, tesoro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
