The Spanish greeting “buenos días” is usually translated into Italian as buongiorno. Italian speakers use it to greet someone during the morning and often into the early afternoon.
buenos días in Italian = buongiorno, pronounced approximately bwon-JOR-noh.
How Do You Say buenos días in Italian?
Buongiorno means “good morning” or “good day.” It is the natural Italian greeting for the same general situation as Spanish buenos días.
Meaning: good morning; good day
Use buongiorno when arriving or meeting someone. When leaving, buona giornata means “have a good day.” In written Italian, buongiorno is commonly one word, though buon giorno also appears.
Different Ways to Express buenos días
Italian separates a greeting from a farewell expression, and the time boundary can vary by region and context. For greetings alongside other everyday expressions, see common phrases in Italian.
1. Buongiorno — good morning / good day
buongiorno — good morning; good day. This is the standard greeting during the morning and often around midday. It is polite and works in formal and informal contexts.
2. Buon giorno — two-word spelling
buon giorno — good day. This spelling is also used, though the one-word form buongiorno is especially common as a greeting.
3. Buona giornata — have a good day
buona giornata — have a good day. Use this when parting, wishing someone a pleasant rest of the day.
4. Buonasera — good evening
buonasera — good evening. As the day moves into evening, switch to buonasera. The exact time depends on local habit and situation.
buenos días in Italian: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Italian | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| buongiorno | good morning; good day | Greeting on arrival |
| buon giorno | good day | Variant spelling |
| buona giornata | have a good day | Farewell |
| buonasera | good evening | Evening greeting |
How to Pronounce buongiorno
Buongiorno is approximately bwon-JOR-noh. In Italian, gn is pronounced like the ny sound in “canyon”; keep the final vowel audible.
Example Sentences Using buenos días
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: Good morning, Mrs. Rossi.
Use: Use buongiorno when greeting someone.
Meaning: Goodbye, and have a good day.
Use: Buona giornata is a farewell wish.
Meaning: Good evening, Professor.
Use: Use buonasera later in the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About buenos días in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say “buenos días” in Italian?
The natural equivalent is buongiorno.
Does <em>buongiorno</em> mean “good morning” or “good afternoon”?
It can cover the morning and part of the day; the exact transition to buonasera varies.
Is it one word or two?
The greeting is very commonly written buongiorno, though buon giorno is also seen.
How do you say “have a good day”?
Say buona giornata when parting.
What greeting do Italians use in the evening?
Use buonasera.
Summary: buenos días in Italian
The Italian equivalent of Spanish buenos días is buongiorno. Use it as a greeting; say buona giornata when wishing someone a good day as you leave, and buonasera in the evening.
