Italian distinguishes the night as a period of darkness from the evening before bedtime. The most useful words are notte and sera.
night in Italian = notte or sera, pronounced approximately NOT-teh / SEH-rah.
How Do You Say night in Italian?
Notte means “night,” especially the time when people sleep or when it is dark. Sera means “evening,” the later part of the day before night.
Meaning: night; evening
Say buona notte when wishing someone a good night or going to bed. Use buona sera as an evening greeting or farewell. For something happening at night, di notte is common.
Different Ways to Express night
English “night” and “evening” overlap in casual speech, but Italian normally chooses a word based on the time and purpose. Compare the earlier part of the day in afternoon in Italian.
1. Notte — night
notte — night. Use it for nighttime, especially when referring to darkness or sleep. It is feminine: la notte.
2. Sera — evening
sera — evening. Use it for the later part of the day, often from around sunset until bedtime. It is feminine: la sera.
3. Di notte — at night
di notte — at night. This expression describes when an action happens: Lavoro di notte means “I work at night.”
4. Buona notte — good night
buona notte — good night. Use this when someone is going to sleep or when parting late at night. For greetings at other times, see common Italian phrases. For an evening greeting, choose buona sera.
night 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 |
|---|---|---|
| notte | night | The nighttime period |
| sera | evening | Evening hours and greetings |
| di notte | at night | Time expressions |
| buona notte | good night | Bedtime farewell |
How to Pronounce notte or sera
In notte, double t is held slightly longer than a single t: NOT-teh. Sera has two syllables and a clear open e. The final vowels are pronounced, not silent.
Example Sentences Using night
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 night; see you tomorrow.
Use: A natural bedtime farewell.
Meaning: I read a book in the evening.
Use: Sera means evening.
Meaning: Cats sleep at night.
Use: Di notte marks the nighttime period.
Frequently Asked Questions About night in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is “night” in Italian?
The usual word is notte. For evening, use sera.
How do you say “good night”?
Say buona notte when parting at bedtime or wishing someone a restful night.
What is the difference between <em>notte</em> and <em>sera</em>?
Sera is evening; notte is night, especially the dark or sleeping hours.
How do you say “at night”?
Use di notte, as in studio di notte (“I study at night”).
Is <em>notte</em> masculine or feminine?
It is feminine: la notte. Sera is feminine too: la sera.
Summary: night in Italian
Use notte for night and sera for evening. Say di notte for “at night,” buona notte at bedtime, and buona sera as an evening greeting.
