buongiorno
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no/
The English phrase 'hello formal' is translated into Italian as buongiorno.
buongiorno is used to say hello in a polite or formal way during the daytime, roughly until around 5 or 6 p.m. It is the most common way to greet someone in Italian during these hours.
What does it mean word for word?
The word buongiorno is a compound of buon (good) and giorno (day).
Which one should you use?
While buongiorno is used during the day, buonasera is the standard formal greeting used once the afternoon transitions into evening, starting from around 5 or 6 p.m. until late at night.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike many Italian adjectives, buon in buongiorno does not change its ending to match a noun because it is part of a fixed compound noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The English word 'journal' shares a common root with giorno, as both derive from the Latin word diurnus meaning 'daily'.
- In some Italian-speaking regions, if you enter a small shop, you might be greeted with a rhythmic buongiorno, buongiorno! instead of just once. This repetition is often used to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for the customer.
- If you want to extend the greeting to a departing person, you can simply say buona giornata, which translates to 'have a good day'.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno! Mi chiamo Marco. Piacere di conoscerla.Good morning! My name is Marco. Nice to meet you.
- Buonasera! Lei è Stefania, giusto?Good evening! You are Stefania, right?
- Buongiorno, signora.Good morning, ma'am.
- Buongiorno a tutti.Good morning to everyone.
- Buongiorno, come sta?Good morning, how are you?
Example conversation
Matteo enters a business meeting with Chiara.
- MatteoBuongiorno, Chiara.Good morning, Chiara.
- ChiaraBuongiorno, Matteo.Good morning, Matteo.
- MatteoHa ricevuto la mia email?Did you receive my email?
- ChiaraSì, l'ho letta stamattina.Yes, I read it this morning.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buongiorno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
