Buon divertimento
/ˈbwɔn di.ver.tiˈmen.to/word by word
In Italian, "have a great time" is expressed as Buon divertimento.
Buon divertimento is a phrase used to wish someone enjoyment before they begin an activity or event, such as going to a party, a movie, a concert or any other leisure activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective buon (good) and the noun divertimento (amusement or fun).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is an elliptical expression where the verb "to have" is omitted, which is a common way to express well-wishes in Italian.
How do you pronounce it?
It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
When do people say it?
When someone tells you Buon divertimento, a common response is Grazie! if you are the only one participating in the activity or Grazie, anche a te! (Thanks, you too!) if the other person is also participating in an activity.
Did you know?
- In some regions of Italy, a very informal way to say 'have fun' is Spaccate tutto, which literally means 'break everything'. It is used as an encouraging way to tell someone to give a great performance.
- While Buon divertimento is the standard wish, Italians often use In bocca al lupo (into the mouth of the wolf) if the 'fun' activity is actually a performance or a challenging event.
- The word divertimento shares the same Latin root as the English word 'divert'. In both languages, the core idea is to 'turn away' from a routine or a boring task to find amusement.
Examples in context
- Buon divertimento alla festa!Have a great time at the party!
Example conversation
Chiara is seeing Matteo off as he heads to a theme park.
- ChiaraVai al parco divertimenti? Buon divertimento, Matteo!You're going to the amusement park? Have a great time, Matteo!
- MatteoGrazie mille, Chiara! Ci vediamo dopo.Thanks a lot, Chiara! See you later.
- ChiaraSpero che tu possa divertirti molto.I hope you can have a lot of fun.
- MatteoLo farò sicuramente, a dopo!I certainly will, see you later!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buon, divertimento) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buon divertimento, divertimento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
