Benvenuto
/ben.veˈnu.to/
The Italian phrase for "hello welcome" is Benvenuto.
Benvenuto is a greeting used to welcome someone to a place or an organization. It can function as an interjection (Welcome!) and an adjective (You are welcome here).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on whom you are addressing. Use Benvenuta if you are welcoming a single female, Benvenuti if you are welcoming a group of men or a mixed group of men and women and Benvenute if you are welcoming a group consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /ben.veˈnu.to/.
Did you know?
- While Benvenuto is used to greet someone arriving, you cannot use it to say 'you are welcome' after someone says 'thank you'. In that case, Italians use Prego.
- The Italian Benvenuto and the English 'welcome' are distant relatives. Both trace their roots back to a Proto-Germanic term meaning 'a welcome guest or arrival'.
- Because it functions as an adjective, you must match the gender and number of the person being welcomed, even if you are just shouting it as a greeting.
Examples in context
- Benvenuto nel nostro ufficio.Welcome to our office.
- Benvenuto nella nostra squadra!Welcome to our team!
- Benvenuto a casa, caro amico.Welcome home, dear friend.
Example conversation
Matteo greets Martina at the office door.
- MatteoCiao Martina, benvenuto in ufficio!Hi Martina, welcome to the office!
- MartinaGrazie mille, Matteo!Thank you very much, Matteo!
- MatteoVieni, ti mostro la tua scrivania.Come, I will show you your desk.
- MartinaVa bene, andiamo.All right, let's go.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry benvenuto.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Benvenuto, benvenuto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
