buonasera
/ˌbwɔ.naˈse.ra/
The phrase "hello in the evening" in Italian is buonasera.
Buonasera is the standard way to say "good evening" in Italian.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of buona (good) and sera (evening).
Which one should you use?
While buonasera is used for the evening, buongiorno is used for the morning and afternoon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Buonasera is a formal greeting appropriate for use with strangers, elders or in professional settings. In contrast, the common informal greeting ciao can be used both during the day and in the evening.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can be written as a single word buonasera or as two separate words buona sera with the same meaning.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔ.naˈse.ra/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word sera shares a common linguistic ancestor with the English word 'serenade', which refers to a song performed in the evening.
- In some Southern Italian regions, the transition from using buongiorno to buonasera happens much earlier in the afternoon than in the North, often immediately after the midday meal.
- In many parts of Italy, you can use buonasera as a way to say 'goodbye' when leaving a shop or a restaurant in the evening, not just to greet someone.
Examples in context
- Buonasera a tutti.Good evening to everyone.
- Buonasera, come sta?Good evening, how are you?
- Buonasera, signora.Good evening, ma'am.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara meet at a cafe in the evening.
- AlessandroBuonasera, Chiara!Good evening, Chiara!
- ChiaraBuonasera, Alessandro. Come stai?Good evening, Alessandro. How are you?
- AlessandroBene, grazie. Vuoi un caffè?Fine, thanks. Do you want a coffee?
- ChiaraSì, grazie mille.Yes, thanks a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buonasera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buonasera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
