Ways to say it
| Sicilian | IPA |
|---|---|
| salutamu | |
| bona jurnata | |
| bonu jornu | /ˈbɔ.nu ˈjɔɾ.nu/ (word by word) |
| jornu bonu | /ˈjɔɾ.nu ˈbɔ.nu/ (word by word) |
While you may want to translate 'good morning' literally, the most common and idiomatic way to initiate a greeting in many Sicilian dialects is to use salutamu. The phrase bona jurnata is also used, but it is most frequently used as a parting wish to say 'have a good day' rather than a greeting used upon seeing someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bona jurnata literally means 'good day'.
Which one should you use?
The forms bonu jornu and jornu bonu are literal translations of 'good day/morning'. In contrast to these literal versions, salutamu is an idiomatic way to begin a greeting. The phrase bona jurnata differs from a simple greeting in that it is often used when leaving someone to wish them a good day.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the standard form bonu jornu, the adjective bonu (good) precedes the noun jornu (day). However, you can place the adjective after the noun as jornu bonu for stylistic variation or emphasis.
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might expect a greeting to be a simple 'hello', the Sicilian salutamu actually translates more closely to 'we greet you', using the first-person plural to include the speaker and their community in the greeting.
- The Sicilian word for day, jornu, is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'journal'. Both words evolved from the same Latin concept of a single day's work or record.
- While salutamu is used as a greeting, it is derived from the verb salutari, which in many Sicilian contexts can also mean 'to visit' or 'to pay a call' to someone.
Examples in context
- Bonjornu, signuri e signure.Good morning, gentlemen and ladies.
- Bongiorneddu, comu stai?Good morning, how are you?
- Salutamu a tutti quanti.Good morning to everyone.
- Salutamu, bonu jornu a tia.Good morning, a good day to you.
Example conversation
Salvatore and Giulia meet at a cafe.
- SalvatoreSalutamu, Giulia!Good morning, Giulia!
- GiuliaSalutamu, Salvatore!Good morning, Salvatore!
- SalvatoreTuvisti un bonu riposu?Did you have a good rest?
- GiuliaSì, grazzi!Yes, thanks!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good morning” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bonu, jornu) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonu, jornu, jurnata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
