buongiorno
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no/
In Italian, buongiorno is a way to say hello formally, meaning good morning.
buongiorno is a polite greeting used during the day. It is used to say "good morning" or "good day."
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of buon (good) and giorno (day).
Which one should you use?
While buongiorno is used during the day, buonasera is the formal greeting used from the late afternoon or evening onwards. In contrast to the informal ciao, which is used with friends or family, buongiorno is a polite and formal choice.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, where "good morning" and "good day" are distinct, buongiorno covers the entire period from the morning until the afternoon.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In many parts of Italy, particularly in the south, people may use buongiorno to acknowledge everyone present in a shop or cafe, not just the staff.
- Depending on the region, the transition from using buongiorno to buonasera can happen as early as 1 PM or as late as 4 PM.
- While buongiorno is a greeting, saying buona giornata is specifically used when leaving a place to wish someone a 'good day' ahead.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, Signora RossiGood morning, Mrs. Rossi
- Buonasera, Signor BianchiGood evening, Mr. Bianchi
- Buongiorno, signora.Good morning, ma'am.
- Buongiorno a tutti voi.Good morning to you all.
- Buongiorno, come sta?Good morning, how are you?
Example conversation
Giulia greets Matteo in a business office.
- GiuliaBuongiorno, signor Matteo.Good morning, Mr. Matteo.
- MatteoBuongiorno, signora Giulia.Good morning, Ms. Giulia.
- GiuliaHa un momento per me?Do you have a moment for me?
- MatteoSì, entri pure.Yes, please come in.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buongiorno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
