Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mattina | /matˈti.na/ | feminine |
| mattino | /matˈti.no/ | masculine |
| mattinata | /mat.tiˈna.ta/ | feminine |
| mane | /ˈma.ne/ | feminine, poetic |
The terms refer to the part of the day between dawn and midday.
Which one should you use?
While mattina is the most common word for 'morning' in everyday spoken Italian, mattino is a masculine synonym often used in formal or literary contexts or when referring to a specific morning as a unit of time. Mattinata is used to refer to the duration of the morning, often implying an activity that lasts throughout the entire morning. Finally, mane is a poetic or archaic form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mattino is more formal or literary, and mane is reserved for poetic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something happens 'in the morning' as a general habit, Italian uses the definite article with the noun, such as la mattina.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /matˈti.na/.
When do people say it?
The most common and standard way to say 'good morning' in Italian is Buongiorno.
Did you know?
- The word mattina is related to the English word 'matins', which refers to the early morning prayers in the Christian liturgy.
- While an English speaker stops saying 'good morning' at 12:00, Italians frequently use Buongiorno well into the early afternoon.
- The archaic word mane is still encountered today in the lyrics of famous Italian operas, though you will almost never hear it in a conversation.
Examples in context
- Lo vedrò la mattina.I'll see him in the morning.This sentence shows how to use mattina to say someone will be seen in the morning.Tatoeba #6004181 by Guybrush88, translation #3910284 by CH
- La vedrò la mattina.I'll see her in the morning.Tatoeba #6004182 by Guybrush88, translation #3910285 by CH
- Io nuoto la mattina.I swim in the morning.This sentence shows how to use mattina to describe a morning habit.Tatoeba #6951016 by Guybrush88, translation #6938759 by CK
- 1283 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are talking about their schedules over the phone.
- FrancescoCiao Martina, ci vediamo domani mattina?Hi Martina, shall we see each other tomorrow morning?
- MartinaSì Francesco, va bene per me.Yes Francesco, that works for me.
- FrancescoA che ora ci incontriamo?What time shall we meet?
- MartinaDirei verso le nove.I would say around nine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morning” translations and entries mattina, mattino, mattinata, mane, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mane, mattina, mattinata, mattino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
