buongiorno bello
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no ˈbɛl.lo/word by word
The English phrase "good morning handsome" is translated into Italian as buongiorno bello.
This is a friendly morning greeting used to compliment a man's physical appearance. Depending on the context, the word bello can also be used more generally to mean "beautiful" or "lovely".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of buongiorno (good day) and bello (handsome/beautiful).
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of men, use the masculine plural form buongiorno belli to say "good morning handsome ones".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no ˈbɛl.lo/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- Calling someone bello in a sarcastic tone can actually be used to scold a man, similar to saying 'listen here, buddy' in English.
- Using bello to address a stranger in Italy can be seen as overly flirtatious or an attempt to get a favor, such as a discount at a market.
- The word bello is a relative of the English word 'belle', which comes from the same Latin root bellus to describe a beautiful woman.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno bello, come stai?Good morning handsome, how are you?
- Buongiorno bello, hai dormito bene?Good morning handsome, did you sleep well?
- Buongiorno bello, ti aspetto al bar.Good morning handsome, I am waiting for you at the bar.
Example conversation
Chiara greets Francesco in the kitchen.
- ChiaraBuongiorno bello! Vuoi un caffè?Good morning handsome! Do you want a coffee?
- FrancescoBuongiorno a te, grazie cara.Good morning to you, thanks dear.
- ChiaraSei davvero in forma oggi.You look really great today.
- FrancescoGrazie, sei sempre così dolce.Thanks, you are always so sweet.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buongiorno, bello) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bello, buongiorno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
