buonanotte amore
/ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te aˈmo.re/word by word
The English phrase "good night love" is translated into Italian as buonanotte amore.
buonanotte amore is used exclusively for romantic partners or very close family members, such as a child and is not used for casual acquaintances.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of buona (good), notte (night) and amore (love).
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the possessive adjective mio (my) is a very common way to make the phrase sound even more affectionate.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te aˈmo.re/. It has 6 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- While buonanotte is used when going to bed, Italians use buonasera as a greeting until the moment they actually retire for the night.
- In Italy, it is common to accompany buonanotte amore with a kiss on both cheeks or a forehead kiss, depending on the level of intimacy.
- The word notte comes from the Latin 'nox', which shares a common ancestor with the English word 'night', making the two languages distant linguistic cousins in this specific phrase.
Examples in context
- Buonanotte amore, sogni d'oro.Good night love, sweet dreams.
- Ti vedo domani, buonanotte amore.I will see you tomorrow, good night love.
- Buonanotte amore mio, ti amo.Good night my love, I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before going to sleep in their own rooms.
- AlessandroBuonanotte amore, a domani.Good night love, see you tomorrow.
- SofiaBuonanotte amore, dormi bene.Good night love, sleep well.
- AlessandroAnche tu, cara.You too, dear.
- SofiaUn bacio, a domani.A kiss, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buonanotte, amore) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amore, buonanotte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
