buonanotte
/ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te/
buonanotte is the Italian phrase for goodnight.
buonanotte is a greeting used when saying goodbye to someone at night or before going to sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a compound of buona (good, feminine singular) and notte (night, feminine singular).
Which one should you use?
Use buonanotte only when someone is actually going to sleep or leaving for the night, whereas buonasera is used as a greeting or farewell during the evening hours.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to say goodnight to someone' in Italian, you use the verb 'dare' (to give) followed by the definite article: dare la buonanotte.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te/. The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
When do people say it?
Sogni d'oro means golden dreams and is used to wish someone sweet dreams.
Did you know?
- If you are a parent tucking a child into bed, you might use the diminutive buonnottina to sound more affectionate and sweet.
- While buonanotte is a farewell, the phrase buona notte written as two words is often used in literature and poetry to describe the actual quality of the night rather than as a greeting.
- In many Italian households, the phrase buonanotte is often followed by a physical gesture of a kiss on the cheek or a forehead, especially among family.
Examples in context
- Vado a letto, buonanotte!I’m off to bed, goodnight!This sentence shows how to use buonanotte when going to bed.Tatoeba #4615809 by Sofia1789, translation #12838390 by JeanM
- Devo darle la buonanotte.I have to say goodnight to her.This example demonstrates the grammatical construction for saying goodnight to someone using buonanotte.Tatoeba #6068018 by Guybrush88, translation #3907427 by CH
- Buonanotte e sogni d'oro!Goodnight and sweet dreams!This shows how to pair buonanotte with a wish for sweet dreams.Tatoeba #13430443 by Guybrush88, translation #12928552 by araneo
- Buona notte, signore.Goodnight, sir.
- Auguro una buona notte a Lei.I wish you a goodnight.
- Notte ragazzi!Goodnight, guys!
- Dormi bene, amore mio.Sleep well, my love.
- Sogni d'oro, piccola.Golden dreams, little one.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Sofia are ending their phone call late at night.
- AlessandroÈ tardi, vado a dormire.It is late, I am going to sleep.
- SofiaVa bene, buonanotte Alessandro.Alright, goodnight Alessandro.
- AlessandroBuonanotte a te, Sofia.Goodnight to you, Sofia.
- SofiaA domani!See you tomorrow!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buonanotte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
