buongiorno
"Good morning" or "good day" — a common greeting
Definitions
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1
A greeting used in the morning or during the day when meeting someone
“Il commesso saluta ogni cliente con un caloroso buongiorno.”
The shop assistant greets every customer with a warm good morning.
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2
Used as a polite way to say goodbye during the day (less common)
“Ha concluso la telefonata dicendo semplicemente buongiorno.”
He ended the phone call by simply saying good day.
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3
As a noun, meaning 'a good morning/day' as a wish
“Ti auguro un buongiorno pieno di energia e sorrisi.”
I wish you a good morning full of energy and smiles.
Word forms
- Gender
- masculine
- Plural
- buongiorni
- Usage
- Formed from 'buon' (good) + 'giorno' (day); can be written as one word or two ('buon giorno'). Used formally and informally.
Used from morning until early afternoon; in the evening Italians switch to 'buonasera'. It's polite and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.