Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buongiorno | /ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no/ /bwonˈd͡ʒor.no/ |
|
| buon giorno | /ˈbwɔn ˈd͡ʒor.no/ | alternative form |
Buongiorno is used as a greeting when arriving or meeting someone for the first time in the morning. Rather than being a wish for someone to have a good day, it serves as a standard greeting for the encounter.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a compound of buon (good) and giorno (day), literally meaning "good day".
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which distinguishes between "good morning" and "good day", buongiorno is used for both throughout the morning and the entire day until the late afternoon. Additionally, while buongiorno is a standard greeting, ciao is a more informal way to greet someone you already know well.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Buongiorno is appropriate for both formal and informal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no/, 3 syllables, the 2nd of 3 syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- The word giorno shares a common ancestor with the English word 'journal', as both relate to the concept of a daily record.
- If you enter a small shop in Italy, it is considered polite to say buongiorno to the shopkeeper immediately, even if you do not intend to buy anything right away.
- Even if you are feeling very energetic, you should avoid saying buon giorno with too much exaggerated emphasis on the 'buon', as it can sound overly theatrical or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, mio dolce cane.Good morning, my sweet dog.This sentence shows how to use buongiorno when addressing a pet.Tatoeba #1802120 by Guybrush88, translation #64916 by fanty
- Tom mi diede il buongiorno.Tom said good morning to me.This sentence demonstrates the use of buongiorno as the object of a sentence.Tatoeba #2771642 by Guybrush88, translation #2643541 by CK
- Buongiorno, si accomodi pure qui.Good morning, please have a seat here.This sentence provides an example of using buongiorno in a polite, formal setting.Tatoeba #13866073 by Nuel, translation #13866071 by Nuel
- Buongiorno, amante del riposo!Good morning, lover of sleep!
- Buondì, dormiglione!Top o' the mornin', sleepyhead!
- Buondì, eterno dormiglione, prontissimo a conquistare il mondo?Top o' the mornin', eternal sleepyhead, ready to conquer the world?
- Buongiornissimo, campione di allegria! Pronto/a ad illuminare la giornata di tutti?Great morning, champion of cheer! Ready to brighten everyone's day?
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia meet at a local cafe in the morning.
- LorenzoBuongiorno, Giulia!Good morning, Giulia!
- GiuliaBuongiorno, Lorenzo, come stai?Good morning, Lorenzo, how are you?
- LorenzoBene, grazie. Prendi un caffè?Well, thanks. Will you have a coffee?
- GiuliaSì, volentieri.Yes, gladly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good morning” translations and entries buongiorno, buon giorno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buongiorno, giorno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
