Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Good afternoon" in Italian: buon pomeriggio
buon pomeriggio
Good afternoon in Italian is buon pomeriggio (bwohn poh-meh-REE-joh). It is less automatic than buongiorno; many people keep buongiorno into the afternoon, then switch toward buonasera later.
Entering an office at 3 p.m.
Buon pomeriggio, ho un appuntamento.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce buon pomeriggio
Say it
bwohn poh-meh-REE-joh
/bwɔn po.meˈrid.dʒo/
Buon is like bwohn. Pomeriggio stresses REE: poh-meh-REE-joh. Soft g before i.
"Good afternoon" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| buon pomeriggio | good afternoon Greeting in the afternoon. | Greeting in the afternoon. |
| buongiorno | good morning / hello Often still used into early afternoon. | Often still used into early afternoon. |
| buonasera | good evening Later afternoon onward in many places. | Later afternoon onward in many places. |
| bel pomeriggio | nice afternoon Wish, not always a hello. | Wish, not always a hello. |
How to use buon pomeriggio in real life
- 1Entering an office at 3 p.m.
Buon pomeriggio, ho un appuntamento.
Good afternoon, I have an appointment.
Polite hello with buon pomeriggio.
- 2Email or message opener
Buon pomeriggio, le scrivo per conferma.
Good afternoon, I'm writing to confirm.
Common in written messages.
- 3Leaving a shop mid-afternoon
Buon pomeriggio e grazie!
Good afternoon and thank you!
Works as goodbye too in the afternoon.
Mistakes English speakers make with buon pomeriggio
Incorrect: Buona pomeriggio!
Correct: Buon pomeriggio!
Pomeriggio is masculine, so buon, not buona.
Incorrect: Buon pomeriggio! (at 10 a.m.)
Correct: Buongiorno!
Morning calls for buongiorno; save buon pomeriggio for after lunch hours.
Good to know
Buon pomeriggio exists and sounds polite, especially in writing and service settings, but many Italians still say buongiorno well past noon. Listen to what staff say and mirror it—local timing for buonasera varies by region and season.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving at a clinic at 15:00
ChatPal
Buon pomeriggio, cerca il dottor Bianchi?
Good afternoon, are you looking for Dr Bianchi?
You
Buon pomeriggio, sì: ho appuntamento alle tre.
Good afternoon, yes: I have an appointment at three.
ChatPal
Prego, si sieda. Buon pomeriggio anche alla collega.
Please, have a seat. Good afternoon to your colleague too.
You
Grazie.
Thank you.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Good afternoon" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good afternoon" in Italian
Do people always say buon pomeriggio?
Not always—buongiorno often continues. Buon pomeriggio is correct and polite when you want afternoon-specific greeting.
Buon or buona?
Buon pomeriggio—pomeriggio is masculine.
When does buonasera start?
Often mid/late afternoon; there is no fixed national minute.
Can I use it in emails?
Yes—buon pomeriggio is common in afternoon messages.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
