Learn How to Greet with Good Morning in Italian and Brighten Your Day

How to say “Good Morning in Italian” is one of the most basic things to know when you want to learn the language. This piece will teach you how to greet people in Italian. If you learn the phrases below, you should be able to greet people in Italian when you meet them.

It’s important to learn how to say hello in Italian because these are the words you’ll use most often when you visit Italy and talk to people who speak Italian. They are easy to learn, and if you use them often enough, they will soon become second nature to you.

Let’s look at the list below to learn how to say “good morning in Italian”, “good evening” in Italian, “good afternoon” in Italian, “hello” in Italian, and more!

How to Say Good Morning in Italian Language?

If you want to say “good morning in Italian”, you would say “buon giorno.” It’s a great way to say hello at any time of the day. You can use it until the afternoon, or even a few hours after that, just like the English and American “good morning.” As evening comes, you can say “buona sera” (good evening) and then “buona notte” (good night). In fact, these “good evening” and “good night” phrases can also be used to say goodbye.

How to say hello and goodbye in Italian is easier than many people think. There are some official and informal variations, but the general ways Italians say hello and goodbye are pretty easy to pick up when you first start learning the language. After all, you probably already know a few Italian words that don’t have to do with food. You’ve probably heard the Italian words or phrases “prego,” “arrivederci,” and “molto bene” hundreds of times.

Also, if you already know a “romance language” like French or Spanish that is based on Latin, you will probably be able to learn Italian. Even though English is a Germanic language, it has been shaped by the same Latin roots that gave rise to Italian. If you already know another major European language, you’re pretty close to being able to speak Italian.

When to Say Good Morning in Italy?

You should only say “ciao” to people you know, but you can say “buongiorno” to anyone, no matter what age, class, or amount of familiarity you have with them.

Even though “giorno” means “day,” Italians usually only use it in the morning. After that, they say things like “Good afternoon,” “Good evening,” or “Good night.”

Most of the time, people say “Buon pomeriggio” to say “Good afternoon” in Italian. It is very elegant and can be used from noon to sunset.

After 6 o’clock, you can also say buonasera, which is Italian for “good evening.”

Lastly, you can say buonanotte (which means “good night” in Italian) when you say goodbye to someone before going to bed.

Read More: Blooket Login

The Standard Way to Say ‘Good Morning in Italian’: Buongiorno

If you already know a little bit of Italian, you probably know how to say “Good morning in Italian”, which is “Buongiorno.” Well, the good news is that “Buongiorno!” is also the usual way to say “Good morning!” in Italian. Listen to how the word is said:

Buongiorno! – Good morning!

Buongiorno, which can also be spelled as two words, buon giorno, means “good day” in English. The Italian word for “good” is “buon,” and the word for “day” is “giorno.” Buongiorno is usually used as a welcome by Italians until about 5 or 6 p.m. when they switch to Buonasera! (Good evening!).

Usefully, Buongiorno! “Good morning!” can be used to meet someone for the first time or to say goodbye.

Buongiorno Chiara. Come sta?

Good morning, Chiara. How are you?

Casual Ways to Say Good Morning in Italian

Here are a few more informal ways to say “good morning” in Italian.

Giorno – Morning

The word “day” can also be shortened to “giorno.” This greeting, which is short for “good morning,” is often used to meet people you know well in a casual way, especially if you are just passing them by and don’t have time to stop and talk. 

25 Different Ways How to Say Good Morning in Italian – At a Glance

Romantic Good Mornings in Italian

Do you not think that your special someone deserves a special way to say hello? Try some of the words in the table below the next time you wake up feeling romantic. (Hey, you can even make cute things for your pets with them!)

“Amore mio” and “tesoro mio” can be used for both men and women, but “bella” is only used for women, and “bello” is only used for men.

The second welcome at our table was made famous by Roberto Beningi’s famous movie, La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful). In these famous clips, you can hear how his character in the movie met his love every morning and really made her feel like a princess. I swear I’m not crying, but the truth is that I am.

How to Respond to Good Morning in Italian?

When someone says “good morning” in Italian, it’s fine to just reply with one of the above greetings (with the right amount of formality, of course). But if you want to talk back in a more casual way, you can use the following phrases. Let’s take a look!

Che piacere vederti! – Good to see you!

Che piacere vederti is a phrase to use when you haven’t seen a close friend, family member, or close coworker in a while. It says, “It’s nice to see you!” You can also say “che bello vederti,” which is pretty much the same as “It’s great to see you!”

Quanto tempo! – Long time, no see

Quanto tempo means “long time no see” and is a great thing to say when it’s been a while since you’ve seen someone, especially if you run into them by chance. The phrase quanto pace is a great way to start a small talk.  

Read Also: How Many Jobs are Available in Consumer Services

When to use Buongiorno, Buon pomeriggio and Buonasera?

At different times of the day, people in different parts of Italy say “Good morning” or “Good evening.” In the south of Italy, people start saying “Buonasera” between 4 and 5 p.m., but in the north, you can hear it as early as 2 p.m.

In Italy, you can usually start saying “Buonasera” after lunch, while in English it would be very rare to say “good evening.” As we’ve seen, people almost never say “Buon Pomeriggio,” which means “good afternoon.” Instead, they go straight from “Buongiorno” to “Buonasera.”

Other Basic Italian Phrases that you Should Know

If you want to visit Italy, you should know that it has some of the nicest, friendliest, and most talkative people in Europe. Don’t believe us? Well, listen up! If you know them well enough, they might even give you a kiss on the cheek (bacio sulla guancia). But be careful! There are times when a face kiss is not appropriate. So don’t move forward just yet. Over time, you will learn how to act like a real Italian.

Here are some simple words you could use in an Italian conversation:

• Please – Per piacere
• Hello! How nice it is to see you! – Ciao! Che piacere vederti!
• How are you? – Come stai? (or Come sta? – formal)
• Thank you – Grazie
• Thank you very much – Grazie mille
• Very well. Thanks! – Molto bene, grazie
• I’m well. Thanks! And you? – Sto bene grazie, e tu?
• No problem – Non c’è problema
• Excuse me – Mi scusi
• I’m sorry – Mi dispiace
• Things are going great! – Va benissimo!
• Everything is going well – Va tutto bene
• What is your name? – Come ti chiami?
• My name is Moon – Mi chiamo Moon
• Nice to meet you – Piacere
• It’s nice to meet you – Piacere di conoscerti
• You’re welcome – Prego

Why Learn Italian Greetings?

I mean, you can’t have a conversation with someone if you can’t even say hello. And talking with people who speak the language is the best way to learn it. It’s easy to say “hi” with a wave and a smile, but if you want to start a talk the right way, you need to know what to say and when to say it.

What’s funny about learning Italian is how much culture comes into play. Italian society is definitely one of a kind and even small ways of saying hello can mean a lot. You have to be smart about which one you use.

The common welcome “ciao” will do, but it’s not the only way to say hello in Italian. Not even close.

When you’re talking to someone in Italian, a warm and proper greeting can make all the difference, especially when you’re trying to figure out what’s formal and what’s not. Respecting the person you’re talking to means being aware of these important differences.

Also Read: How to Learn Something New Every Day

Conclusion

You now know how to say “good morning” and many other common greetings in Italian. The Italians love to say hello to each other. In small cities, people often greet everyone they meet, even if they don’t know them. Don’t be rude and do the same, using the words you just learned.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Good Morning in Italian

What is a typical greeting in Italian?

“Ciao” (Hello) is the most popular way to say hello. This is not a big deal. People can also be more polite by saying “Buongiorno” (Good morning) or “Buonasera” (Good evening).

How do you greet a good morning in Italian?

Learn how to say “Good morning” in Italian. If you want to say “good morning” in Italian, you would say “buon giorno.” It’s a great way to say hello at any time of the day. You can use it until the afternoon, or even a few hours after that, just like the English and American “good morning.”

How do you reply to Buongiorno?

As a general rule, I’d say that you should use the greeting that someone has decided to use with you. In other words, if they say “Buongiorno,” you should say the same thing back, and if they say “Ciao,” you should do the same. It’s better to be too formal than too casual when you have to meet someone first.

What is a popular Italian saying?

Mamma mia is a common Italian saying. This is an Italian exclamation that means “my goodness” in English. It is usually used to show surprise or anger.