Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Good morning" in Italian: buongiorno
buongiorno
Good morning in Italian is buongiorno (bwohn-JOR-noh). Use it from waking until early afternoon with almost anyone. With friends you still say buongiorno; the greeting itself stays the same whether you later use tu or lei.
Entering a bakery
Buongiorno! Vorrei due cornetti.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce buongiorno
Say it
bwohn-JOR-noh
/bwonˈdʒor.no/
Buongiorno stresses JOR: bwohn-JOR-noh. The g before i is a soft j sound. Keep giorno clear.
"Good morning" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| buongiorno | good morning; good day Standard daytime greeting until afternoon. | Standard daytime greeting until afternoon. |
| buongiorno a tutti | good morning everyone Entering a shop or group. | Entering a shop or group. |
| buonasera | good evening Switch after late afternoon. | Switch after late afternoon. |
| ciao | hi / bye Informal with people you call tu; not a morning-only word. | Informal with people you call tu; not a morning-only word. |
How to use buongiorno in real life
- 1Entering a bakery
Buongiorno! Vorrei due cornetti.
Good morning! I'd like two croissants.
Shop greetings almost always start with buongiorno.
- 2Meeting a neighbour
Buongiorno, come stai oggi?
Good morning, how are you today?
Come stai keeps the informal tu after buongiorno.
- 3Starting a work call
Buongiorno a tutti, iniziamo?
Good morning everyone, shall we start?
A tutti opens the greeting to the group.
Mistakes English speakers make with buongiorno
Incorrect: Buona giorno!
Correct: Buongiorno!
Write it as one word: buongiorno, not buona giorno.
Incorrect: Buongiorno alle undici di sera.
Correct: Buonasera.
Late evening needs buonasera, not buongiorno.
Good to know
In shops and offices, buongiorno is the polite default even with people you barely know. Skipping it can sound abrupt. Friends may answer with ciao, but the first word from staff is still often buongiorno.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Morning at a neighbourhood bar
ChatPal
Buongiorno! Prendi un caffè con me?
Good morning! Want a coffee with me?
You
Buongiorno! Sì, un cappuccino per me.
Good morning! Yes, a cappuccino for me.
ChatPal
Perfetto. Oggi il bar è pieno già alle otto.
Perfect. The bar is already full at eight today.
You
Capisco. Buongiorno a tutti, allora!
I get it. Good morning everyone, then!
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 morning" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good morning" in Italian
Until when can I say buongiorno?
Roughly until early afternoon. After that, switch to buonasera.
Do I use tu or lei with buongiorno?
Buongiorno itself does not choose. Address friends with tu later; strangers often get lei.
Is buongiorno one word?
Yes. Write buongiorno, not buona giorno.
Can I say ciao in the morning?
Yes with friends you call tu. With shop staff, buongiorno is safer.
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.
