Buon Natale
/ˈbwɔn naˈta.le/word by word
The English phrase 'happy xmas' is translated into Italian as Buon Natale.
Buon Natale is the standard way to say Merry Christmas. You can also use Tanti Auguri di Buon Natale! to say 'Many wishes for a Merry Christmas!'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Buon Natale is composed of buon (good) and Natale (Christmas).
Which one should you use?
While Buon Natale is the standard way to say 'Merry Christmas', it is more common to say Buone feste (Happy holidays) to cover the entire festive period.
How does it change in a sentence?
Buon Natale is used as a standalone greeting or an exclamation.
Did you know?
- The phrase Natale comes from the Latin word for 'birthday', which is why it literally refers to the 'birthday of the Lord'.
- In some regions, people say Buon Natale while exchanging a panettone or pandoro, traditional sweet breads that are culturally inseparable from the greeting.
- Italians may use Auguri as a shorthand for Buon Natale, and this single word can serve as a greeting for birthdays, anniversaries and weddings too.
Examples in context
- Buon Natale, Signor Rossi! Come sta?Merry Christmas, Mr. Rossi! How are you?
- Auguri di Buon Natale a te e alla tua famiglia!Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family!
- Buon Natale a tutti!Merry Christmas to everyone!
- Ti auguro un Buon Natale.I wish you a Merry Christmas.
- Buon Natale, cara amica.Merry Christmas, dear friend.
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo meet at a Christmas party.
- SofiaCiao Matteo, Buon Natale!Hi Matteo, Merry Christmas!
- MatteoGrazie Sofia, Buon Natale anche a te!Thanks Sofia, Merry Christmas to you too!
- SofiaGrazie, divertiti alla festa.Thanks, have fun at the party.
- MatteoSì, ci vediamo dopo!Yes, see you later!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buon, Natale) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Natale, natale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
