Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buongiorno | /ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no/ /bwonˈd͡ʒor.no/ |
|
| buon giorno | /ˈbwɔn ˈd͡ʒor.no/ | alternative form |
Buongiorno is the standard and most commonly used way to say 'good morning' in Italian. It is used when seeing someone for the first time in the morning. While English speakers distinguish between 'good morning' and 'good day', the Italian buongiorno covers both meanings and is used throughout the morning and the early afternoon. If you wish to greet multiple people at once, you can say Buongiorno a voi, which means 'good morning to all of you'. You may also encounter Salve, which is a general greeting that can be used throughout the day, including in the morning.
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?
Buongiorno is used for both 'good morning' and 'good day'. The form buon giorno is simply an alternative spelling of buongiorno.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Buongiorno is appropriate for formal situations, such as greeting a stranger or a shopkeeper. In very casual settings with friends or family, Italians often use ciao instead of buongiorno.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no/.
When do people say it?
When you are leaving someone rather than greeting them, you might say Buona giornata!, which means 'Have a good day!'
Did you know?
- The word giorno shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'journal'. Both traces originate from the concept of a daily record or a single day's span.
- In Italy, the transition from using buongiorno to buonasera (good evening) often happens around 4 PM or 5 PM, rather than at noon.
- The word salve, an alternative to buongiorno, comes from the Latin verb meaning 'to be healthy' or 'to be saved'.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, mio dolce cane.Good morning, my sweet dog.This sentence shows how to use buongiorno when greeting 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 verb form for 'said' used with buongiorno.Tatoeba #2771642 by Guybrush88, translation #2643541 by CK
- Buongiorno, si accomodi pure qui.Good morning, please have a seat here.This sentence shows a formal way to use buongiorno when inviting someone to sit.Tatoeba #13866073 by Nuel, translation #13866071 by Nuel
- Buongiorno, Signor Rossi!Good morning, Mr. Rossi!
- Buongiorno a lei!Good morning to you!
- Ciao Marco! Buongiorno!Hi Marco! Good morning!
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo meet at a local cafe in the morning.
- SofiaBuongiorno, Matteo!Good morning, Matteo!
- MatteoBuongiorno, Sofia. Come stai?Good morning, Sofia. How are you?
- SofiaBene, grazie. Vuoi un caffè?Fine, thanks. Do you want a coffee?
- MatteoSì, grazie mille.Yes, thanks a lot.
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.
