Starting your day among locals with the right “good morning” can go a long way in Italy where greetings are essential to the culture. And while buongiorno is the most popular way to say “good morning” in Italian, you can use many other Italian greetings in the morning!
Practice these alternatives as you learn Italian, and you’ll be ready to interact with locals, from greeting a neighbor in the elevator to impressing your romantic interest.
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How do you say ‘good morning’ in Italian: 6 easy ways
There are several ways Italians say “good morning” or “hello”; some can only be used during daylight hours, while others work anytime.
Buongiorno
Pronunciation: bwohn-JOHR-noh
Buongiorno (also written buon giorno) is the most common way to say “good morning” in Italian. You can use it in the morning (in casual and formal situations) and early afternoon (a bit more formal).
- Buongiorno, bellezza. = Good morning, beautiful!
- Buongiorno, professore! = Good morning, professor.
If someone greets you first, you can add politeness to your reply with a (to) + an Italian pronoun:
- Buongiorno a te/a lei. = Good morning to you. (informal/formal)
>> Say more than “Good morning, beautiful!” with other expressions of “my love” in Italian.
Buon dì
Pronunciation: bwohn-DEE
Buon dì (dì means day) was the standard way to say “good morning” in Italian during the early centuries of the Italian language. You can still hear and use it in informal contexts to sound friendly and cheerful, but buongiorno has replaced it almost entirely nowadays.
Giorno
Pronunciation: JOHR-noh
Giorno is a quick greeting like the English “Morning!” It works well in fast-paced settings to say “hi” without starting a conversation. For example, a coworker might say it while walking into the office every morning. Or you can use it in a waiting room to greet everyone present without further interaction.
Buona mattinata
Pronunciation: BWOH-nah maht-tee-NAH-tah
Here’s a tricky one! Buona mattinata looks like a greeting, but it’s a way to wish you a pleasant morning. Use it to say goodbye early in the day, like when you leave the coffee shop after your morning cup of Joe.
- Grazie, buona mattinata! = Thanks. Have a great morning!
Ciao
Pronunciation: CHOW
Ciao is Italy’s most used friendly greeting, meaning “hi/hello/bye.” But did you know the origin of ciao is rooted in a word meaning “slave”? Historically, the Venetian dialect term s’ciavo (slave) was used locally as a polite greeting, meaning “at your service.” It gradually transformed into ciao, as an example of how Italian dialects shaped the language.
It’s best to avoid using ciao in formal settings, like when speaking to strangers, professionals, or older people. Stick with buongiorno in those cases.
Salve
Pronunciation: SAHL-veh
Salve is a good choice if you’re unsure whether to go formal or informal or to greet someone you don’t know well, like a flight attendant, a hotel receptionist, a grocery clerk, etc. It will make you sound polite but not too stiff.
Common phrases to say ‘good morning’ to friends and family
Let’s practice! Replace the greetings in these Italian phrases with the various ways to say “good morning” in Italian to get the perfect phrasebook.
| Italian | English |
| Buon dì, come va? | Morning! How’s it going? (informal) |
| Buongiorno a te/lei. | Good morning to you. (informal/formal reply) |
| Buongiorno a tutti! | Good morning, everyone! (informal) |
| Buongiorno, come stai/sta? | Good morning; how are you? (informal/formal) |
| Buongiorno, dormiglione/a. (m/f) | Good morning, sleepyhead. (informal) |
| Buongiorno, piacere di conoscerti/conoscerla. | Good morning, nice to meet you. (informal/formal) |
| Ehilà, buongiorno! | Hey there, good morning! (informal) |
| Giorno, chi è l’ultimo? | Morning, who’s last in line? (neutral) |
| Salve, il piacere è mio. | Good morning, the pleasure is mine. (slightly formal) |
Try also Italian idioms and expressions to say “good morning” in Italian without actually saying it.
| Italian | English |
| È l’ora del caffè! | It’s coffee time! |
| Forza, è ora di alzarsi. | Come on, it’s time to get up. |
| Già sveglio/a? | Already awake? |
| Hai dormito bene? | Did you sleep well? |
| Sveglia! Il mattino ha l’oro in bocca. | Wake up! The morning has gold in its mouth. (The early bird catches the worm.) |
| Ti sei alzato/a con il piede sbagliato/la luna storta? | Did you get up on the wrong foot/wrong moon? (in a bad mood) |
| Ti sei svegliato/a con le galline? | Did you wake up with the chickens? (very early) |
How to greet Italians throughout the day
Now your mornings and early afternoons are covered, but how do you greet people in Italian in the evening and at night? Here’s a quick summary:
- Buonasera (good evening): slightly formal but perfect to greet someone after sunset.
- Buon pomeriggio (good afternoon): a way to wish someone a pleasant afternoon, rarely a greeting.
- Buonanotte (good night): use it when someone is going to bed, or you’re ending the day.
- Salve and ciao: These are all-day greetings.
Memorizing these phrases without context makes it hard to know when to use them. That’s why your learning journey should combine Italian grammar, culture, and even Italian slang.
Rosetta Stone‘s Dynamic Immersion method does this with live feedback and bite-sized lessons, which is perfect if you want to fit in short lessons during your busy day.
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