buongiorno signorina
/ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no siɲ.ɲoˈri.na/word by word
The English phrase "hello miss" is translated into Italian as buongiorno signorina.
buongiorno signorina is a polite greeting used when addressing a young or unmarried woman. Although buongiorno literally means "good day", it is the standard way to say "hello" during daytime hours in a polite context.
Which one should you use?
The term signorina is used for young or unmarried women, whereas signora is used for married women or women of a certain age to show respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of signorina is signorine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwɔnˈdʒor.no siɲ.ɲoˈri.na/. The word has 6 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In many parts of Italy, calling a woman signorina can actually make her feel older than she is. If a woman is in her late twenties or thirties, many prefer being addressed as signora to signify status and maturity rather than just marital status.
- The suffix '-ina' in signorina is a diminutive that literally implies something 'small'. While it functions as 'miss' in English, the linguistic structure of the word is actually a way of creating a 'little lady'.
- While 'hello' is a generic greeting in English, buongiorno is strictly tied to the cycle of the day. Using it after the sun has set would be a linguistic error, as Italians switch to buonasera once the afternoon transitions to evening.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno Signorina, come posso aiutarla oggi?Hello miss, how can I help you today?
- Buongiorno signorina, come sta?Hello miss, how are you?
- Buongiorno signorina, il caffè è pronto.Good morning miss, the coffee is ready.
- Buongiorno signorina, benvenuta nel nostro negozio.Hello miss, welcome to our shop.
Example conversation
Francesco greets Giulia at a reception desk.
- FrancescoBuongiorno signorina, cosa desidera?Hello miss, what would you like?
- GiuliaVorrei un caffè, per favore.I would like a coffee, please.
- FrancescoCertamente, arriva subito.Certainly, it will be right here.
- GiuliaGrazie mille, Francesco.Thank you very much, Francesco.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buongiorno, signorina) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buongiorno, signorina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
